T&T pros still have shot at national squad
-Dos Santos
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
December 2, 2003
Striker Randolph `Blackhead' Jerome and Charles `Lily' Pollard still have a chance of making the senior national football team.
Pollard and Jerome, who play professional football in Trinidad and Tobago, were not named in a 27-man senior squad to go into training for next year's World Cup preliminaries.
However, Guyana Football Federation Technical Director Neider Dos Santos is adamant that the selection process does not stop with the 27 players named last week.
Stressing that his intention is to put together the best possible team to represent Guyana, Dos Santos assured that he would do everything within his power to accomplish this.
"I heard that he (Jerome) is a good player and also Pollard. Once these players show up I will have a look at them. I can't say that I don't want this player or that player without seeing them. I have no problem with any player. I'm here to see everybody," Dos Santos said.
The Technical Director however explained that players can only be selected to the national team if they have a clean slate with the GFF.
"Once they are disciplined and keep performing they will be selected. But if the GFF has a discipline problem with any player and say that they don't want him because of something he has done in the past then I must respect their (GFF) wishes."
Sweeper-back Pollard, who was the last national senior captain, and more so Jerome have been on fire in the Trinidad professional league.
Up to last week the fleet-footed Jerome held down the leading goal scorer title. Both scored goals on Friday to help North East Stars to a 2-0 victory over San Juan Jabloteh.
The exclusion of Jerome and Pollard and a few others has raised eyebrows in some quarters, but GFF General Secretary George Rutherford defended the omissions.
Rutherford declared that his organisation was focusing on youth development hence the composition of the senior squad.
The General Secretary added that the GFF was looking past the 2006 World Cup, which the senior squad will be preparing for, and on to the World Cups of 2010 and 2014.
In a recent interview with Stabroek Sport, the 25-year-old Jerome expressed disappointment at not being called to trials, but pledged to do enough to earn a cap when he returns to play for Milerock in the Kashif and Shanghai competition.
He said representing one's country at the senior level is the greatest honour that could be bestowed on a footballer.
The 27 seniors have merged with the national Under-23 team from which a 26-member senior squad will be named on January 15.
"If I pick my side on that date and a better player comes up after I will include him. I need the best team possible. If a player shows up who is good and has no problem with the GFF, then he is in," Dos Santos said.