Technical Director starts work this morning
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
August 28, 2002
Technical Director of Guyana's football, Brazilian Neider Carvalho Colmerauer Dos Santos will start fine tuning a training programme for the national Under-17 team from this morning.
Dos Santos arrived here Sunday and immediately after commenced work which is part of a one year contract signed with the Guyana Football Federation.
"His initial responsibility is to ensure the readiness of the Under-17 team preparing for the upcoming tournament," GFF president Colin Klass said at a press conference held at the Ocean View International Hotel yesterday.
The Under-17 team will return to encampment on Monday to prepare for Group A action in the Caribbean Football Union World Cup preliminary.
Dos Santos will have close to two months to whip the youths into shape before they depart for Bermuda on October 28 to challenge Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda and the winner of a tie between St Lucia and The US Virgin Islands, the other members of the group.
The national team is made up of 18 players at present but Klass said that the number could increase if the Technical Director sees it fit.
"If tomorrow he is travelling to Berbice and sees a young player who he feels could replace someone in the camp then that will happen. No one has a secured place on any team," Klass warned.
Dos Santos' contract will be for one year in the initial stage but Klass said that it will be reviewed at the end of that period.
The GFF will be assessing the work done during the 12 months. If favourably considered there is a possibility that the contract will be extended to four years.
National head coach Joseph 'Bill' Wilson and Under-19 female coach Andrew Grogon have been appointed to work alongside Dos Santos. In due time other persons will be added.
Later today Dos Santos will make his first visit to the mining town of Linden as part of a familiarising process. Visits to other sub associations are also planned by the GFF.
Giving a synopsis of his experience Dos Santos said that he was the assistant Technical Director of the Cayman Islands national team and head coach of the island's Under-20 side.
Cayman Islands is rated 170 by FIFA, six places ahead of Guyana. The Brazilian said that he also worked in the Middle East and was technical director of a club in Oman. Although not fully in command of the English language Dos Santos said he speaks the language of football fluently.
"I know that my English is not wonderful but in football we have a universal language which is the language of the ball. That language I know very well," Dos Santos declared.
Dos Santos will also be given plans submitted to the GFF by the two previous technical directors who left unceremoniously.