With no timeframe for the end of the current Covid-19 pandemic by international medical organizations, Fruta Conquerors Women’s team head-coach Delon Williams, said that he will be troubled by the eventual state of the female game when the situation ultimately recedes.
These sentiments were shared by long serving servant of the Tucville based giant following an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday.
Williams, who is also an emerging coach on the national grid of the Guyana Football Federation, said, “I am worried for women’s football, it’s naturally much harder for the women’s game to resume or start back than the men’s and this current situation could essentially destroy all the previous groundwork laid. It has stopped the momentum and women’s football already don’t play enough.”
He further said, “This could very well cripple the women’s game, which is a real possibility, as it will take years to recover from this situation because there is no timeline in sight for the end of the virus. I genuinely hope that is not the case but it could very well be a possibility given the current situation and overall uncertainty. I just hope not.”
“I had already lost girls to the transfer window and with this, parents might be hesitant or skeptical to send their kids to the sessions when it’s over and then there is the school situation which has not been resolved, so we could possibly lose many girls from the sport due to this situation”, he said. According to Williams, women’s football is not traditionally viewed or developed in the same light as the men’s game and as such, long periods of inactivity often occurs, some which lasts for months and is essentially to the detriment of the players and the sport.
He declared, “We already didn’t have much football being played and its unfortunate situation that as soon as it seemed like women’s football was on a possible rise that this coronavirus pandemic occurred. It has not only affected local football but world football and sports. The hope is that after this situation is over or finished that we can possibly get back to directly where we stopped.”
Williams opined, “There is no timeline for when this will stop, the hope for the women’s game is that when the virus eventually stops, there are things in place so that they can return to the field. Maybe a league like the Elite or a period where tournaments can be staged because we know that women’s football don’t play as consistently.”
He revealed, “Because of this situation, we have lost the possibility of two of our club players being scouted after overseas coaches from clubs and schools have indicated their interest in viewing the girls in action. This is just one of the consequences of the current pandemic.”
Williams further urged everyone to take the necessary precautions in their effort to combat the situation. “I want everyone to follow the guidelines and maintain the social distancing so we can get through this issue. We need to follow the rules until it’s necessary to help fight the virus so things can eventually return to normalcy”, he added.
