Members of the national Under-23 football team received a surprise visit from government officials yesterday afternoon moments before taking on Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly international.

Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj and Director of Sport Neil Kumar both met the Under-23s in the dressing room of the GCC pavilion and offered congratulations for reaching the second round of the Olympic Qualifiers.

“Let me congratulate you for having reached this far. We are here to support our colleagues not to condemn our colleagues. It is only in that vein that our captain, with all the support he can have, will be able to succeed in bringing home what ever trophy is at stake,” Gajraj declared.

“You have been selected to represent Guyana. We are proud of you. The government is proud of you and inclined to give you every support as you pursue your discipline. The mere fact that I’m here is evidence of the confidence that I have in you as a team to engage Trinidad and which other team you may have to play so that you can stand tall and keep Guyana’s flag flying high. We are proud of you, we congratulate you, we wish you all the very best,” the minister added.

Just over a week ago president of the Guyana Football Federation had complained that government had not sent a word of congratulation to the Under-23 team which made history by qualifying for the second round of the competition.

“I hope that you, and Guyana through you, will stand tall,” Gajraj concluded. Giving brief remarks Kumar applauded the recent efforts of the team and the GFF.

“Our government is extremely proud of your performance. We are extremely proud of the way the GFF is performing at this time,” Kumar said.

The Director of Sport challenged Technical Director Dos Santos to bring male and female football clubs from Brazil as was done in volleyball recently.

Dos Santos later told Stabroek Sport that he was very happy that the government officials had visited the team. “I’m very pleased that the government supported the team. It is very important,” Dos Santos said.