The Perfect Plan: Monedderlust Coach discusses team’s win over Slingerz FC

The Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground was treated to an exhilarating matchup on Sunday night, when Berbice Football Association’s (BFA) Monedderlust Football Club needled West Demerara Football Association’s (WDFA) Slingerz FC to pull off a stunning win in the Elite League Promotional Playoff final.
The highly-talked-about 1-0 win for Monedderlust came as a shock to some, as Slingerz went into the tournament as favourites. However, for the Berbice-based team, their confidence lay in crafting the perfect plan to counter their opponents and seeking a year-old revenge, as told by Coach Jamal Johnson.
“Me and the guys, we’ve been planning this for a long time. We’re here at the finals, we went out there with a team plan, we know how Slingerz does play, so we had everything prepared,” he said.

“Everything was according to plan, the guys did very well, and it was a great game,” the Monedderlust Coach related to this publication.
Overcome by emotions, Johnson added, “Right now I’m kind of speechless. I just want to celebrate with my guys, but it was a big win. Slingerz beat we 2-0 early last year, so this was a rematch that we waiting for like a year now. So, is a lick that they due for.”
Without giving away too much, Johnson went on to detail aspects of the plan his team had for Slingerz.
“The key was basically to shut down the play very fast; don’t give them enough chance to build up no kind of possession of the football. And once we break down the play, we got good runners (who) could able to move forward on the wing and have a quick counter. So, everything went according to plan.”

Having previously competed in the Elite League and being relegated after the 2016/2017 season, Johnson, who told Guyana Times Sport about the team’s eagerness to re-enter the league weeks ago, described it as their redemption.
“Yes! This will be redemption! In the initial stage of the draw, we met before, and I told you the type of confidence that Monedderlust would be coming into this tournament with; and here you see the results, right? Me and the guys, we went preparing, there was no slack time. I mean, after now I could catch some rest, but we went really hard at training, preparing for this moment,” the proud Coach said.
He went on to add, “The guys deserve to be champions at this level; because, individually, all the guys get great personal skills, they just need somebody to guide them, which I did. I was there, guide them, render the little assistance that they would need to better themselves.”
Turning his attention to the upcoming Sixth Season of the Elite League, Johnson revealed that planning for the opposition would also be important for the journey ahead.
“For the League competition coming up in February, we will be doing some special preparation for this League; because I know the teams in the League, and I will be planning ahead for these teams.”
He further explained, “Planning happens at every stage, you just don’t plan now and relax and thing. You keep planning at every stage. Planning is the key to a smooth process. So, we always plan, me and the guys, we pinpoint key persons who we want to take out in which game to slow the opponent approach. So, that was exactly some of the things that happen tonight.”
The Elite League will reportedly begin in February 2024. For now, focus will shift to the Slingerz FC vs Victoria Kings FC eliminator match on Sunday, January 14, from 19:30hrs; that will determine the 10th team in the upcoming season.
Also on Sunday, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Women’s Team will take on the Potaro Strikers Women from 17:00hrs, in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s League Division 1 tournament. Both games will be contested at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown. (Jemima Holmes)