GFF’s First Astroturf official commissioned

The Guyana Football Federation’s National Training Centre has been aiding that Federation in preparing successful national teams such as the Golden Jaguars, who have qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The soon-to-be state-of-the-art facility was commissioned on Monday in the presence of representatives of FIFA; those from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), and GFF officials.
The story behind this development is similar to that of the prodigal son, with Guyana long awaiting the arrival of their own Astro turf pitch, which is used widely around the world. Guyana have, since 1999, been identified as part of the International Football Federation’s (FIFA’s) board project, and the GFF had, in April 2017, inched a little closer when the sod was turned at the Providence facility by then Minister with responsibility for Sport, Nicolette Henry, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The dream of the FIFA Forward Project was finally realised in December 2018 when the turf was finished after months of weather delays.

Speaking to Guyana’s need for better playing facilities, those that are up to international standards, GFF President Wayne Forde disclosed the Federation’s plans to construct such facilities in all nine regional member associations.
“The unavailability of good quality football facilities across our country continues to strangle the progress of the game. Football cannot fully develop without proper playing surfaces, changing rooms and lit fields. We have set ourselves an ambitious target to construct one artificial field in each of our 9 associations in the next five years,” Forde said.
The GFF boss took the opportunity to appeal to the Government and corporate Guyana for further support.
“This task must not be left to FIFA and the GFF alone; we need the Government of Guyana and corporate Guyana to play their roles,” the GFF President said.
FIFA’s Director of Development, Mosengo- Omba, was full of praise for the GFF for embarking on such a fruitful project.
“FIFA is proud of the progress that has been made by the GFF under the leadership of its president, and FIFA is looking forward to widening the relationship with Guyana; and I would like to also thank the Government for providing the land to construct this facility,” Omba said.
Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, while highlighting the Durban Park football project, took the bold step of pledging the Government’s commitment to providing lands in order to construct nationwide facilities.
“We are here today to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to President Wayne Forde and the GFF, where it’s necessary and where land needs to be made available to them. We want you to rest assured that such will be done,” Jones promised.
Following commissioning of the facility, two friendly matches were hosted on the fairly new Astroturf pitch involving FIFA, CONCACAF, CFU and GFF officials. After the fun is done, those officials will get down to work tomorrow as FIFA hosts its development conference at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown. The Conference will span the 14th and 15th of May.