Guyana were hammered 5-0 in the first leg in Grenada, a surprise to many Guyanese, the hosts having been beaten by Barbados, who the locals put away 2-0 in Barbados.

When Guyana went to Blairmont for the second leg, the crowd were evidently hostile to the coaching staff and the players. That did not help the morale of the young team and they went down 3-1, needing to win by 5-0 in the first instance to force an extra time play, or 6-0 and seven clear goals in any other combination.

Grenada Football Association (GFA) newsman, Michael Bascom, related how spectators were hostile to Dos Santos when he was about to interview him.

That was a complete turnaround after the good showing of the National Under-23 team in the Olympic qualifiers. He was warmly hugged and congratulated, with one spectator going to tell him, the local game was now in good hands.

Criticisms streamed in from persons vying for higher football posts and past coaches, who did not lay any foundation for the present generation of players.

Then the Grenada Football Association (GFA) took offence when he complained about conditions the players endured before the first leg match.

GFA First Vice-president Cheney Joseph told Chronicle Sport: “What I would say to the officials of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) though is that we must realise that when people are losing, they will find excuses at times. And I hope that our good relationships as Caribbean people will not be spoilt by someone who is trying to save his job.”

But Dos Santos has always been outspoken about the conditions footballers have to endure while wearing the national colours. He is known to fly into fits of rage when logistic details are not in place, even here in Guyana.

Many criticise him for overlooking traditional senior players, opting instead to use young blood.

What Dos Santos is really doing is carrying out the mandate presented to him by his employers, the GFF.

GFA president Dr Elliott Mc Guire, in an informal discussion with Chronicle Sport on Guyana’s football, suggested that Dos Santos sell the rebuilding process, rather than seemingly make excuses for losses. He said the GFF should be in the forefront in promoting their focus.

Instead of hiring a foreign coach, the GFA uses a local one and brings in foreign players with money saved.

Coach Allister De Bellotte spoke of the benefit of such a policy: “The professional players have a great impact on the team. They bring a high level of professionalism. Their individual skills are much higher, so the amateur players are brought to their level. The locals lift their game to the level of these guys.”

Dos Santos said the present crop of players could only go so far, pointing out that in today’s football world, if a player is not spotted by a professional club by 13 years, that player would have no future at a high level.

The camp was bubbling with rebellion because the players were not exposed to the harsh training of professional players. At least two players walked out of the camp.

The GFA media man told Chronicle that just four persons are paid officials in the secretariat.

Conversely, the GFF has more than double that amount, with one officer receiving an-almost $250 000 salary, plus allowances, according to sources close to the body. That may very well be so, because in court papers filed by the GFF, an ordinary worker was shown to receive an $85 000 salary. That was about four years ago. It may be more now, counting salary increases.