• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 06 / 17 / 2011

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June 16, 2011. By KNews. Some of the U-23 Olympic squad players going through their paces at the Carifesta Sports Complex Ground yesterday morning.

By Franklin Wilson. Guyana’s preparations for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the Olympic Under-23 qualifying competition has been on track with the team working out twice daily under the watchful eyes of Paul Banta (Technical Advisor) and Collie Hercules (Coach).

Guyana has been drawn in Group C along with host Cuba and Aruba; the Dominican Republic was originally named in the group but pulled out subsequently.

Group action is set for June 23 – 27 with only the winner advancing to the next stage. With this in mind, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) started the process of training a few weeks ago and it {training}is now at an advanced stage. The core of the Olympic squad was involved in three practice matches against the Barbados senior team and one game against Bradley University of the USA which they won 2-1.

The young ‘Golden Jaguars’ defeated Barbados in two of their three encounters, the other ended in a draw.Ahead of the Cuba group of qualifying, the team inclusive of a number of overseas based players commenced encampment last Saturday. So far, Banta and Hercules said that training has been going well and they {Guyana} are formidable challengers for the lone spot available going forward.

The 67 year-old Banta, who is the Founder and President of Global Soccer Ministries (GSM) said he has been a football educator ever since the age of 24 and has trained thousands of Coaches around the world.He stated that he was invited to Guyana by President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Colin Klass to assist with football development and to lend a hand with preparations for the Olympic qualifiers.

“I have designed training sessions which I have done to get players playing faster and more tactically. The staff has come alongside and I’ve been showing them some different things to do in football to get the players fitter, play faster, play tactically better together in attack; close down in defence; shooting, and that’s kind of been my role.

The coaches have fitted right in and have learned some of the stuff which is at an advanced level; we are coaching the players as young pros.”

Banta also informed that GSM does work with coaches in Jamaica, Guatemala and Romania among other countries. He has designed a course for the local coaching pool as well.

Some of the U-23 Olympic squad players going through their paces at the Carifesta Sports Complex Ground yesterday morning.

Hercules said the chemistry among the members has been coming on and they are trying to get the best combination (s) they can use. “I think we are looking good, we have got a few additions {players}that I think will aid the team generally since they all have had the experience and exposure before. We also have a few youngsters and they have been doing fine so far.”

The former Guyana forward was quick to point out however, that they {Guyana}will not be taking any of the teams in the group for granted and will be going for a big win against Aruba in their first game to put some pressure on the other team.
The latest player to join the ranks was former Under-17 Captain Alvin Adams who flew in from the USA yesterday morning.

Other USA based players in the squad are Anani Mohamed who scored the winning goal against Barbados in game two at the National Stadium Providence on May 21 and Brandon Beresford who played in all four games.

The current 26-man squad will be reduced to the travelling 19 tomorrow. The team is expected to wing out on June 21 for Cuba. Meanwhile, Suriname will host Group A with Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and the Cayman Islands August 3-7, while St. Kitts & Nevis will be the site for Group D with Haiti, Antigua & Barbuda and St. Lucia July 21-25.

Group B will be played in Dominica with Trinidad & Tobago and Curacao July 20-24. The group winners will advance to a second group phase, from which two will qualify for the eight-team CONCACAF finals next year in the United States.

In the women’s competition, Aruba will host one of two first-round groups that also will include Cuba, Haiti and Suriname June 29-July 3, while the Dominican Republic will host the other group July 5-9 with Trinidad & Tobago, Bermuda and Dominica.The group winners and best runner-up will qualify for January women’s finals in Canada.

Source: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2011/06/16/olympic-squad-intensify-tra...