UK players for senior squad
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
January 8, 2004
Three footballers from the United Kingdom have indicated, to the Guyana Football Federation, their intentions of representing Guyana at the upcoming senior World Cup Qualifiers.
Goalkeeper Andrew Reading, midfielder Dean Forbes and a striker have all contacted the GFF recently, and are expected in Guyana on Tuesday for senior trials which commence three days later.
President of the GFF Colin Klass said that apart from the United Kingdom, overseas-based players will also come from Trinidad and Suriname and join local-based members for the trials which run for a week.Â
Technical director Neider Dos Santos, who at present is on vacation, will conduct the trials. Thereafter, a squad of 26 players will be short listed and encampment will follow.
"Dos Santos will be back this weekend. We will be holding trials at which all overseas-based players will be given a chance to show off their stuff. I want to make it clear that there are no secured seats on this bus. Only persons who deliver the goods will be accepted on this trip," Klass said.
Late last year the GFF had released the names of 26 players, made up mostly of members of the national Under-23 team, to go into training for possible selection on the senior squad for the World Cup qualifier.
Notable absentees were Randolph Jerome, Charles Pollard and Richard Reynolds, who all play in professional league overseas. Only Kayode McKinnon and Cary Harris who play in Trinidad and Tobago and Anthony Abrams and Neil Hernandes, members of a Suriname pro-club, were selected to the squad named by the GFF.
Jerome made history for Guyana when he became the top goal scorer in the Trinidad league while Pollard is rated one of the best defenders in the league.
However, Klass said that the three from the United Kingdom and other overseas-based players will be given a chance at trials.
"Those who do not perform will not make the final squad," the GFF president declared.Â
Forbes played with the last senior national team and produced a goal in a game against Netherland Antilles.
Reading, who is of Guyanese parentage, did duties between the uprights when Guyana played in the national Under-20b side which toured Antigua in September of 1998.
Guyana plays Grenada on February 18 in that island in the first game of a home and away tie of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier. The return match is scheduled for Georgetown on March 31. The winner of the tie will come up against the USA.