– ‘Jackie Chan’ Richards, Mills also named on coaching staff

WAYNE ‘Wiggy’ Dover, former Senior Men’s National Team Coach, has been named Head Coach of the National U20 team as preparations begin for Guyana’s participation in the 2018 Concacaf Men’s U20 Championship in Florida, USA, from November 1 – 22.

Dover will have some familiar faces on his coaching staff, with one of Guyana’s top forwards, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, as well as Vurlon Mills being named by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) as the team’s Striker Coach and In-Possession Coach, respectively.

Another national player, Anthony Benfield (Out of Possession Coach) was named as one of Dover’s Assistant, along with Den Amstel FC’s O’Neal Haywood.

Phillip Carrington is the side’s Goalkeeper coach, and Wilson Toledo will serve as the side’s Coach Developer and Head of Sports Science.

Other members are Team Doctor, Physiotherapist, Head of People and Culture, Performance Analyst and Head Scout, Team Operations Coordinator and Equipment Manager.

Guyana will start the tournament against Guatemala on November 2, followed by a clash against Cayman Islands on November 6. The Wayne Dover-coached side will then face Curacao on November 8 and will close their Group F crusade against El Salvador on November 10.

“We have a talented combination of staff tasked with preparing [the] players for the upcoming U20 championships but with the ultimate goal of pushing players into the Senior Golden Jaguars squad,” said Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.

According to Greenwood, “There is clear alignment with the senior team’s campaign in the Nations League and the key messages to be delivered to the U20 players.  The staffing structure allows players to receive position-specific coaching on the various moments of the game, with specialist coaches delivering the national coaching and playing philosophy.  The wealth of international playing experience among the staff is vital as we prepare this current crop of exciting and talented young players.  There is a clear pathway for national team players to engage in a career in coaching which is now clearly evident.”

Meanwhile, Dover said he is happy to contribute to the development of such a crucial group in Guyana’s football, adding that while the players’ squad will be announced this week, the squad will be crucial to inform the senior team.

“The U20 group of players, we can safely say, is our golden generation of footballers; hence there will be a very careful process by the GFF to harness this group of players who definitely will form the senior national team in the not-too-distant future.  This team will augur well for the projection that the GFF has for the 2026 World Cup campaign,” Dover noted.