Coach Joseph optimistic about Lady Jags’ future

After the recent experience – and understandable disappointment – of Guyana’s senior women’s team, the ‘Lady Jags’, in the CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers,
Lady Jags’ Head Coach Dr. Ivan Joseph has disclosed that he has a few ideas on how the team should be composed and how its performance can be improved.

In a press briefing prior to the Lady Jags’ scoreless draw with Barbados, Dr Joseph admitted that the team was lacking in some areas. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter how pretty you look. Up until that final point… and we were there and we couldn’t deliver it,” Joseph said.
The head coach is confident the Guyanese team’s weaknesses can be overcome and its members can be properly prepared for future high-calibre encounters. One of the key elements in his plan is to host a national team camp. Set up in an audition form, the camp would allow for talented players from around the country to come and show off their skills. This camp would also allow the Jags to identify new talent and increase their player pool.
Citing complaints he has received in the past, he said this process would make selection “fair” for every player. “One of the things that I’ve heard loud and clear (is) people are feeling like they’re not getting picked for the team, or they’re not getting chosen,” Dr Joseph revealed.
He has also expressed intention to host more friendlies. “I want to make sure the team stays together and we have another friendly sometime before the end of the year,” he said.
This, he explained, would have to be discussed with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President, Wayne Forde, and the Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.
Explaining his reason for the friendlies, Joseph declared, “We can’t have those other Caribbean teams playing three games in August and (we are not doing so). The gap is going to get bigger.”
Joseph was referring to the next round of the CONCACAF Women’s Qualifiers, which will run from August 25 to September 2.