-GDF coach Marlon Washington is upbeat about his team’s chances against Pele in their Kashif and Shanghai match tonight

Coach of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) football team Marlon Washington is upbeat on his team’s chances of reaching its first Kashif and Shanghai football final.

Marlon Washington

The army boys will face Pele in the feature match of the semi-finals at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence tonight. Speaking with Stabroek Sport, Washington, a former national table tennis player, stated that his unit was a cohesive one which was playing in its  first ever K&S tournament and looking to come out victorious.

“This is our debut in this tournament which is a marquee one on the local football calendar and we will be looking to go all the way and win it.

We see our chances as doing so as very bright, and we are upbeat on winning this tournament.
“Unlike the other teams who have participated in this tournament, we are not dependent on any key player as we go out there as a cohesive unit. “Our team trains as a team, executes as a team and at the end of the day, takes whatever result comes our way as a team,” Washington declared.

GDF recorded a hard fought 1-0 victory over another tournament debutant Bakewell Buxton All Stars in the first round before eliminating BK International Western Tigers 3-1.

Washington congratulated his players for their sterling performances in the Buxton game.
“Buxton came out playing a great game not only for the competition but the ground. Due to the soggy conditions underfoot, they executed an aerial attack on us, but our defence, led by Devon Harris and Jerome Richardson stood firm and even denied them five certain goals.”

He added: “These two must be complimented for their performances while our formidable midfield, led by the relatively unknown Kevin Lewis and former Topp XX player, Marlon Benjamin and Warren Gilkes, ensured that we came out on top.”

He also complimented the technical staff for its accurate assessment of the opposing teams which has resulted in new game plans being implemented and properly executed.

The Guyana Defence Force’s starting XI who played in their quarter-final encounter against BK International Western Tigers at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Christmas Day. (A Clairmonte Marcus photograph)

“We have an eager bunch of players who are hungry for success and with the technical staff  assessing the game during the first half makes our lemon time break an interesting one. New game plans are discussed and implemented on the field.

“The guys execute the plan to the last quotation mark and at the sound of the final whistle the required result weighs in our favor and come Sunday (today) against Pele nothing is going to change, except for a renewed team with a sudden burst of energy, hungry for success,” Washington stated.

“I say renewed energy as the guys were happy for Pele when they defeated Alpha in their encounter. Not because a new champion will be crowned, but because we have the remedy not only for Pele’s top striker Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, but all the others including their inspirational defence led by national captain Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard. “We know their (Richardson and Pollard) weaknesses and have been training with the intention to exploit same. Our defence is also eager to take on Richardson and his fancy foot works, which would make this matchup an exciting one.”

Asked to comment on the performance of his custodian Keith Fraser, Washington stated that only three words can best describe him, ‘Tower of Strength’. “He has put in some exemplary performances for us in those two games, especially the first one against Buxton. He is brimming with confidence and having been left out of the national team, he wanted to prove a point in this tournament.

“Fraser was angry with himself when Western Tigers scored against him as he wanted to keep a clean sheet. But we all consoled him, but all in all, he is a Tower of Strength in our line up and to my mind also, one of the better custodians here in Guyana.”

He also expressed condolences on behalf of the GDF football team to the bereaved family of Selwyn Bailey who died after being run over by a mini-bus on Christmas Day.