Dover lauds materialization of National Training Centre

– adamant it will help technical development of players

By Akeem Greene

A long overdue national football training center is slated to commence the initial phase of building in a matter of days and interim Head Coach of the National Football team, commonly called Golden Jaguars is most elated given the substantial impact it can have on the development of the sport.
“We were always optimistic that Guyana would benefit from the FIFA project and here I can say today [Wednesday] this is a blessing in disguise and it will have a huge impact in terms of development of football in Guyana,” the coach told Guyana Times Sport.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde at a press conference on Tuesday stated, “It’s very likely that works will commence in no later than seven days.”
Phase one of the project is focused on the construction of the surface and the goal-nets, the GFF is also pushing for the lighting system to be included at this stage. The reason for that is so the federation will have usable facility while the constructions of the other edifices are underway.
Dover who has been actively in football since 1986, further stated, “given my years in football and the exposure as a coach and working at the international level for my country and seeing the top facilities in those countries, it would make one envious of those places but now we will have our own and it will only auger well.”
Forde had further the ultimate goal is to develop athletes and football in Guyana.

The facility will have added amenities as Forde intimated that it will include a gym, while the committee is considering a “cool down pool.” This is in addition to the construction of dorms which will accommodate lengthy encampments.
More so, it was disclosed other members will have facilities of similar nature built in the coming years an idea that floats well with the coach.
“It is a massive announcement that other member associations will benefit from these kind of ventures. It encourages athletes to want to be there and want to perform. It will help develop domestic leagues given our weather patterns, football won’t be halted for a pro-longed period.”
A glowing improvement will come in the form of the condition of the surfaces. Aside from the limited opportunities at the national Stadium, other surfaces present a challenge due to their uneven nature.
“That has been a situation we are facing every time we go out pitches are well prepared and faster because of the flatness. For us as coaches it gives an opportunity to teach possession in training… In in Guyana it is almost impossible to teach possession due to some of the facilities. Hence the reason we give possession easily. It doesn’t no necessarily mean the lads are bad at passing. It has to do with the surface and it begins to show on the international scene.”
The 8.5 acres land which was leased from the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council which is being developed by Greenfields and sub-contractors Nabi and Sons should see the first phase completed by the end of January, 2018.