Dos Santos shrugs off critics, pledges to work with juniors
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
March 21, 2004
WITH the honeymoon over, Technical Director Neider Dos Santos continues to trudge on to change local football, working through the junior players.
But Dos Santos does not consider the first months of his stint here as a honeymoon. He told Chronicle Sport: “The only honeymoon I had was when I was married. First of all I don’t think the public are against me. It is some individuals who don’t want things to change in local football. With me it will change. They are individuals who have personal interest and not football. The way they are behaving, it seems that Guyana always beat everybody before now.”
Dos Santos pointed out that success could not be achieved with the seniors overnight.
“It’s impossible. With the Under-17 and Under-23 teams, there was progress.”
The technical director acknowledged that the seniors’ performance was not good.
“The reality of the seniors is not good, unlike the Under-23 players who are young and lack experience.”
Dos Santos pointed out that the behaviour and attitude of the seniors were unacceptable, which he would not tolerate.
“The level of football in the country is judged by the amount of football played by the clubs. Never should the Under-23s beat the senior players. This shows the level of players in the clubs. They do not have the structure and discipline. This is the real problem. And some people don’t like those things to be changed because they will be out.”
Dos Santos said he would persist with the Under-23s until the clubs spoil them.
“It’s a long-term work. The seniors are a mirror of what is happening in the clubs. That is why we have to have so long camps. In other countries, the players have the fitness, technique and discipline, so they can be assembled 15-20 days before a match and play well.”
The technical director opined that the adverse reception the seniors had at Blairmont was instigated by the few who sought to make them fail.
“It affected the morale of the team. Only in Guyana that happens. I don’t see that in other parts of the world. The players are given the support until after the game.”
Dos Santos said he had no problem in using overseas players who play at a high level, like those that boosted the Grenada side.
“I saw the match when Grenada played with home players against Barbados. The level was completely different. The foreign-based players lifted the team a lot, no doubt about that. If we find overseas Guyanese, we have to utilise them.”
Dos Santos will next be working with the Under-17 and Under-20 squads for the World Cup qualifiers at those levels, in July and September, respectively.
The Under-17 will come up against Antigua in a home-and-away series for a place in a group, the first match fixed for July 17 in Antigua and the return July 24.
Guyana will come up against Anguilla in a similar tie for a group place, the first match fixed for September 18 or 19, and the return leg for September 25 or 26.
Dos Santos wants to start training at least two months before the matches, and after trials, the Under-17 squad should be in camp from next month.