The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) hosted an Appreciation Function for the National Under-17 players following their success in the first leg of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) World Cup qualifying series in Dominica recently.
The ceremony was held Sunday at the Diocesan Youth Centre (DYC) where the players were housed last weekend for a four-day training camp organized by the GFF. George Rutherford, former General Secretary of the GFF showered praise on the players whom he said defied the odds to win the group stage against Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and hosts Dominica following flight problems to get to the Caribbean island.
“You made us very proud, this is the start of a long road to reach the World Cup finals in 2011,” Rutherford said in the presence of parents and sponsors.
Guyana and the Netherlands Antilles ended on similar points but Guyana advanced on a better goal average after the two teams had played to a 2-2 draw in their opening encounter. The Guyanese defeated the other two teams in convincing fashion.
Rutherford said the players arrived just hours before their first match giving them little time to get acclimatized. The GFF is awaiting the announcement of the second stage which was originally scheduled to be played in Jamaica this month but that country opted out of hosting the leg, Rutherford added.
Head Coach Sampson Gilbert, urged parents to support the players especially in their nutritional needs while at home so that they will be strengthened for the next stage of the competition. Two sponsors, Banks DIH Ltd. and Geddes Grant Ltd. who made contributions to the team were also honoured at the ceremony and given tokens of appreciation.
Geddes Grant Brand Manager June-Ann Eastman in brief remarks lauded the team’s performance and offered the players words of support.
Banks DIH Communica-tions Manager Troy Peters expressed his company’s continued support to the team and called on the players to stay focused in their quest for excellence.
The company also donated a new brand of energy drinks on the local market.
The ceremony was chaired by team manager Carlos Bernard who said the players displayed exemplary behavior during their stay in Dominica.
