A few weeks ago, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde revealed that construction work would soon recommence at the Federation’s National Training Centre, Providence, as it took the necessary steps to complete the venue.
GFF President Wayne Forde
“As we speak, work is going to commence in five to six days; what we’re doing at Providence, we’re starting the work to convert the existing buildings into really good dorms,” Forde said about the project at the end of January.
While the work did not begin at the proposed time, upon Guyana Times ’ last visit to the Providence facility, it was noticed that the foundation works for the expansion of the dorms have commenced. As stated by the GFF boss, the new dorms will play an integral role in preparing Guyana’s national teams and will even positively impact referee and coaching education programmes.
“The whole goal there is once that project is over; we will have our youth teams encamping every weekend, so the contact between player and coaches will improve dramatically. There will actually be a resource area where we can have coaching education programmes, referees’ education programmes, so a lot of the work that we have at satellite areas in Guyana concentrated there,” Forde exclusively shared with Guyana Times Sport.
Preparations being made to lay the foundation at Providence
On the topic of football facilities, the GFF President was then probed about the 7.3-acre plot of land at D’Urban Park, Georgetown that was leased to the GFF back in 2019. Forde assured that the project has not been forsaken and took the time to explain why no significant work has begun at the site.
“As it relates to D’Urban Park, FIFA has made it absolutely clear to us that until such time that we meet a certain level of construction at Providence, they will not authorise the use of funds for any other location. We’re also in agreement with that. We believe it’s important that we don’t try to spread ourselves too thin,” he explained.
Furthermore, the GFF boss revealed that the Federation was looking to level the land at D’Urban Park and construct goal posts, which can be utilised by those in the area. He went on to share that it was his hope that work can begin by the last quarter of 2020.
