Former President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Christopher Matthias said the Golden Jaguars’ embarrassing 2-4 loss to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz Tuesday night highlighted the shortcomings and lack of readiness of the team’s technical and tactical division.
Despite leading 2-0 at halftime in their Caribbean Cup fixture against the champions, at the Leonora Facility the Golden Jaguars surrendered four goals to go down 4-2 in extra time. The loss sealed Guyana’s exit from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament.
In an interview with Stabroek Sports, Matthias said: “The team performance was reflective of the known limitation of the technical and tactical department. I was very disappointed in the result. You could not be in front of your home crowd and go into the dressing room 2-0 and concede four goals in the second half. One has to be disappointed.
“It begs the question of the preparedness of the team and the ability of the technical department to prepare the team. As he [Head-coach Jamaal Shabazz] spoke of the Suriname game that more than three players not having match fitness to play 90 minutes or more, it is akin to an army sergeant going to war and knowing fully well that his unit is not ready for the war and does not know what to do to prepare them for this war,” Matthias added.
Asked if the GFF should take any blame for the lack of fitness of the local players given the lack of competitive football presently, he said “How do we blame the GFF if most of the foreign players selected were expected to be playing?
“In some way you can blame them for a lack of a structured programme which takes in consideration of the CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA calendars as well a lack of a structured programme when it comes to local competition.”
Quizzed if the lack of financial resources could also be seen as a factor for the team’s shortcomings, Matthias declared: “In light of the amount of money being made available to the GFF, how much could your hands be tied, you are going to war, you have to be prepared”.
Matthias said that he welcomed the recent appointment of Technical Director Englishman Ian Greenwood whose credentials centre on youth development.
“I welcome the idea of a TD whose platform is youth development. I trust that the GFF would embark on a comprehensive programme which achieves the same competition at every level.
“Moreover, when the competition reaches a stage of inter association, the GFF should have national teams at all levels which allows for a graduated system. Some will fall out but many will aspire to the other levels.
“It lends to the cohesion necessary to play as one like Jamaica played with the calm and poise notwithstanding they were down 2-0. It’s not about assembling a team, it is about developing a team,” he posited.
Questioned if a foreign coach from outside the Caribbean is required to take Guyana to the next level, he said: “More than that, we need a technical programme. It makes no sense you bring a foreign coach and the local coaches don’t benefit from it.
“What is needed is a complete reform of the coaching structure so they can benefit from the Technical Director and the possible future foreign coach. We need a programme that targets educated individuals and players that show a disposition towards coaching.”
