Under-17’s to form nucleus of Olympic squad
...says Rutherford
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
November 5, 2002
General Secretary of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) George Rutherford, has declared that members of the present national under-17 World Cup football team will form the nucleus of Guyana’s Olympic football squad.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport by telephone yesterday, Rutherford said the GFF held a retreat earlier in the year and a decision was made to keep the squad together “they will be our Olympic squad and they will also form the nucleus of our under-20 and under-23 teams.” Rutherford stated.
The General Secretary however pointed out that it is not certain as yet, as to how often the under-17’s will be brought together as a squad for training purpose. “That decision will be made at a later date..,” Rutherford promised, adding “...a more detailed account of the GFF’s plans for the squad will be made later.”
Rutherford said the GFF’s General Council will have to meet and make a decision, based on the Technical Director Nieder dos Santo’s proposals. Rutherford alluded to the fact that having the team (under-17) encamped is a costly thing, but insisted that the Federation will stick with them.
Asked to comment on the team’s performance at the just concluded Under-17 World Cup second round preliminaries in Bermuda, Rutherford said “I thought that they did quite well in the first two games (versus Trinidad and Bermuda), because we (GFF) were expecting a very tough game from Trinidad, but after holding them to a 1-1 draw we felt we had a chance of qualifying to the next round, then when we beat hosts, Bermuda, we were euphoric.”
With regards the 2-3 loss the team suffered against St. Lucia, Rutherford opined that something must have went wrong with the team.
Both Guyana and Bermuda ended the round with four points each from two wins and a draw, but because Bermuda finished with a higher goal average, they will advance to the next round.
Questioned on plans for the under-17’s when they return home from Bermuda, Rutherford explained that the GFF has an intensive package for them. He further explained that when they got past Dominica in the first round of the competition, they earned $330,000, $200,000 of which was for advancing to the next round (just completed) the other monies were for goals scored among other things.
He however reasoned that because the team failed to qualify for the third round, the package would not be that much.
Rutherford pointed out that the GFF will also be concentrating on the under-13 and under-15 teams next year.
According to Rutherford, countrywide tournaments are planned for early next year for teams in each age group. “We already have a sponsor who is excited about sponsoring the under-15 tournament, and this should get underway in the first quarter of next year.” Rutherford informed.
He pointed out that the under-15 tournament will be school based and will be a joint venture between the sponsor, the Ministry of Education and the GFF.