Matthias calls for inclusion of Richardson, Millington

Former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Christopher Matthias said he believes internationals Devon Millington and Gregory Richardson should be a part of Guyana’s current 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying roster.

Millington, 31, currently plies his trade for Vergenoegen-based heavyweights Slingerz FC while the 32-year-old Richardson presently laces up for national giants Alpha United.

In an invited comment with Stabroek Sports, Matthias said: “In my humble opinion, we ought to have the striking power of Devon Millington and Gregory Richardson, they are still two of the best players in the country.

   Christopher Matthias
Christopher Matthias

“The argument would have been advanced that individuals who never played in and for our country before, would be given the opportunity against playing Millington and Richardson who would have grown accustomed to the national stadium with both local and international tournaments, and have necessary football skill, prowess and intelligence,” he added.

“The argument that has been advanced before they are among two of the best and what would make the argument different now?” he questioned.

Asked about the makeup of the technical staff, he said: “In my view respectfully, the technical team cannot only consist of one set of coaches. What happens to the other coaches within the coaching association, are they not going to be given the chance to coach at the national level?”

“An example is Brian Joseph, who has both the talent and intelligence to coach at that level, when will he be given the chance, would he have to wait another five years?” he added.

Quizzed if individuals coaching at the national level should also be coaching at the club level, he said: “The answer to that is evident. It’s more likely they will favor

Devon Millington
Devon Millington
Gregory Richardson
Gregory Richardson

players from their club as a first choice. That is why they should always be a consideration that our national coaches should not be coaching at a club.

“We would also have players making complaints that national coaches would have threatened them, insisting the players leave their mother clubs and join their club or they would never make the national team, which is an unfair practice.”

Asked how far he believes the team can progress in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, he said:” I would like for them to progress very far. I also would like to see more local talent and players progressing from all the associations and have competent coaches to bring them to the level of the players we are importing from overseas”.

He further added “It is my view that coaches registered with coaches association should be allowed to go to any international game free of cost so as to gain the requisite exposure from just observing the game. We are an amateur country and most of our coaches don’t get paid, that is the least we could have asked of the GFF.”