NATIONAL club champions Alpha United will on Monday commence preparation for this year’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championships.Coach Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover disclosed that the players would undergo comprehensive six-week training and would be expected to be match-fit in time for the regional tournament.

“We have mapped out where we are and where we are going. Our training starts on Monday at the GFC ground and once we stick to our schedule then the club would be ready for any opposition,” Dover said.
“We start with conditioning and will organise to be playing as a unit in the latter stages of our preparation. We also expect to use the Kashif and Shanghai tournament to our advantage as this (the tournament) can and would be used for valuable match practice.”
The Caribbean Championships would be held in March and April but according to Dover no definite date has been received. “We have no fixtures as yet but our understanding is that we will be playing in March and April.
“We play in the Kashif and Shanghai and plans are to have practice matches against Caribbean opponents also,” Dover added.
The Kashif and Shanghai tournament is scheduled to kick off at the end of March. Alpha and GDF are the two clubs from Guyana invited to participate in the prestigious championships.
The coach revealed that efforts are being made to have the first round of the Caribbean Championships played in Guyana. Meanwhile, Dover downplayed the impact that the transfer of midfielder Dwayne Jacobs to Slingerz would have on the club.
The talented midfielder has played with Alpha United for some time but recently moved to the West Demerara club. “Alpha United is a unit, it is an institution. The club is not about any one player. We did lose one of the most prolific goalscorers in Anthony `Awo’ Abrams and we still continue to win tournaments,” explained Dover.
“I take my hat off to Jacobs for the time he spent with us. However, his absence would not be a big blow to us.” The Caribbean Championships is an annual competition hosted by CFU. Last year, Alpha United topped their Group that included Trinidad Defence Force and Harbour View of Jamaica.”