Despite Guyana crashing out of the first round in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and 2021 Gold Cup, Daniel Thomas, secretary of club champions Fruta Conquerors, said yesterday that he is opposed to the idea of sacking head-coach Marcio Maximo.
This was disclosed during an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport.
“I would not join the call for the Head Coach to be removed, I think he has been dealt a bad hand in the sense that he was not able to assess our local players properly by watching them compete in league and local matches etcetera. Since March 2020, football in Guyana has basically been at a stand-still [and maybe even longer when we examine when the last league games were held], and still is,” said Thomas.
He added, “Chopping and changing coaches would not solve Guyana’s problem. Any coach can only carry a team as far as his players can. Our focus as a nation has to hinge on the overall development of the sport, and the resources that we are prepared to invest towards ensuring we harness talent at the nursery level. As such, I would advocate for Coach Marcio Maximo to be given an extended run as well, maybe for another two years, but that’s only my suggestion [as] the eventual decision would be that of the GFF president and his executive committee.”
The Golden Jaguars were dumped out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, after concluding the group campaign with a record of three losses and a win. Guyana lost to Trinidad and Tobago (4-0), St. Kitts and Nevis (3-0), and Puerto Rico (2-0), with their only victory occurring against the Bahamas (4-0).
Similarly, the Guyanese suffered an embarrassing defeat to Guatemala (4-0) in the first round of the Gold Cup Playoffs. Under the stewardship of Maximo, Guyana’s record stands at four wins, six losses and a draw, of which four losses have occurred in their last five fixtures.
Asked about his thoughts on the team’s performance, Thomas said, “I thought that there was an overall marked improvement in the team’s performance against Guatemala last Saturday. To me, sharing my thoughts as a non-technical person, the team played with more energy, more determination, much more purpose, until basically a reckless challenge changed the numerical advantage of the game.”
He added, “However, playing with energy, executing a game plan tactically and possessing superior technical abilities are two different areas altogether. The statistics from the game would show that Guatemala were able to control almost all areas of the game, including the number of corners gained and the possession of the ball.”
Quizzed on the composition of the Gold Cup playoffs squad which excluded several notable names inclusive of Sam Cox, Neil Danns, Anthony Jeffrey, Callum Harriott and Terrell Ondaan, Thomas said, “Those mentioned players are all very good players, and we could add a few other names to that list that were not included. However, the selection of the team is solely that of the Head Coach and his technical staff. I have no issue with players when they are selected, as it’s the decision of the coach and his technical staff, and they live and die with the decision based upon the results of the team. Everyone can justify a player’s inclusion, but we are not in any position to make such a decision; it’s all up to those in charge of that process.”
Thomas continued, “During this last campaign, what was noticeable was the number of young players who were given the opportunity to be a part of the squad, and some were even given the chance to play. I don’t think not being selected signals that it’s the end of one’s career, maybe it has been interpreted as so by a few of our older players who are in the twilight of their careers.”
Meanwhile, Thomas offered condolences to the families of former Golden Jaguars team manager Mark Xavier and youth player Kareem Powley, who recently passed away. “In closing as an executive of our club FC, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and the fraternity of Rhythm Squad FC on the death of Mark Zavier and quite recently our club as lost a very promising youth player Kareem Powley, so to his family and friends we do offer them our deepest condolences as well.”
