08-18-2007
GUYANA SPORTS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION OF MIAMI CONTINUE CONTRIBUTIONS TO U23 PREPARATION FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS
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| Under-23 Squad receive training gear from GSDF Secretary Mr. Victor Wright |
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Secretary of the Miami-based Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF) Mr. Victor Wright presented another set of training gear to the National Under 23 Squad at the Guyana Defence Force Sports Ground at Camp Ayanganna yesterday afternoon. The gear is intended for use by the members of the squad as they continue their preparations for their participation in the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers slated for Suriname at the end of the month.
At the simple handing over ceremony which took place just before the squad broke into training mode for the afternoon, Mr. Wright who was introduced to the Squad by GFF PRO Frederick Granger, indicated that although the privilege was his to hand over the gear, it was really as a result of a wider commitment to several others in the USA who wanted to see Guyana’s football and its young stars rise above their circumstances and further enhance Guyana’s image through their commitment and excellence both on and off the football pitch.
Wright told the assembled members of the Squad, that all those involved in the efforts of the GDSF believed that Guyanese footballers have the talent and the ability to transform themselves both on and off the field and attain superlative successes. He noted that this became evident with the meteoric rise of the National Senior Male Team whose members proved the naysayer’s wrong both at home and abroad. He said that he was confident that the National Under23 squad could produce the same results and urged its members to stay focused, and not allow anyone in and circumstance to make them feel like lesser mortals. He encouraged them to dream and dream big, and pointed out that when they performed well, the result was always that the collective Guyanese pride went up a notch. He indicated that superlative performances by the Team would result in a greater awareness among Guyanese and non-Guyanese everywhere that we had the talent and were committed to success. Wright implored the young footballers to stay- focused and dig deep within themselves to give 1000 percent of their effort both on and off the field.
The Training gear which included agility straps, cones, rings and athletic tape, underwrap for the athletic tape, ball pumps and a ball pump gauge was received by Head Coach Wayne ”Wiggy” Dover and Player Kester Jacob.
GFF Technical Director, Jamal Shabbazz, in brief remarks, noted that Guyana’s football, with its paucity of resources and lack of broad-based community commitment when it came to its ability to prepare National Teams for serious Regional and International engagements, was not on a level playing field when compared to the other countries within the Region (Caribbean). He noted that under the circumstances the interventions by the GDSF were not only timely but of substance and showed what true commitment to the development of sport meant. Shabbazz expressed gratitude to the GSDF and expressed the hope that God would strenghten the hand of the Foundation and that its work would continue to grow. He also expressed the hope that others right here in Guyana would see it fit to do their part to help develop football. “After all”, he said, “these youngsters are Guyanese sons of the soil, and wherever they went to represent Guyana and the Guyana National Anthem was played, it represented not only Teams such as this, but Guyanese in every corner of the globe.”
Kelvin Smith moved the Vote of Thanks on behalf of himself and his Teammates.
The National Under 23 Squad will continue its preparations prior to its departure next week for the Olympic Qualifiers in Suriname.
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