Lake Mainstay Goldstar will be going into the Elite League to prove a point

Lake Mainstay Goldstar is the newest addition to the GFF’s Elite League, set to compete in this year’s 7th edition of the tournament after coming out on the winning side of a thrilling 1-0 encounter earlier this week in the Elite League Qualifier final.
Following the massive victory for the Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Football Association-based club, Guyana Times Sport was able to catch up with former player turned stand-in Coach of the team, Jermaine Ralph, who led the team to victory.

Speaking on their unique coaching situation, Ralph shared how he got into the job. “It’s because of the move for me. By coming to town, being exposed to different teams, learning different things from other coaches. So, the little that I know, I share it with them; we try however best we can put it into practice, and come out with whatever little that we learn and put our best foot forward,” the stand-in coach related to this publication.
Ralph’s strategies worked out in the end, as he highlighted that their early game-winning goal was a part of the game plan. He explained, “Well, that was the main objective: that we come on, work, and press to get the goals. If we could get the first goal, then we keep pressing. Then we realised that it wasn’t continuous, I tell them fellas, ‘Let we just step back and defend it. We got to defend.’ And it was clear to see in the game the other team kept pressing, so we had to give it we all and defend.
“It was really strenuous on them, cause you could see they tired; their legs were giving up, but it was the determination,” he added.
Quizzed about their entry into the Elite league, where they will meet the best clubs in the country, Ralph detailed some aspects that the team would need to improve.
“Condition! When it comes to fitness and the tactical idea of the game: how to maintain a shape and how to work together as a team, keep more consistency and play more of a possessive. The more you keep possession of the ball is the more you can get chances,” he pointed out.
“So, there’s a lot of work to be done, and the guys are willing to do it,” he declared.
In spite of the coaching situation and needed improvements however, Ralph is confident that Lake Mainstay Goldstar can hold their own. And he has revealed that they have a point to prove.
The Coach asserted, “We came out to prove something. We came out to prove that Essequibo is not just a joke, cause, as people say, Essequibo doesn’t have a competition; but we proved it here tonight. And coming into the Elite League, we know it is a challenge, but we’re still here to give it the best; and as long as they’re people out here to give the support, we believe we can go further.
“Why not? If another team do it, we can do it also. The possibility exists. They already told us that we wouldn’t have reached this far, and we’re here. So, as long we can do it now and we put our best foot forward, pray about whatever we endeavour, it can happen,” Ralph said on being able to retain their place in the League at the end of season seven.
Lake Mainstay Goldstar defeated Mahaica Determinators 1-0 in the Elite League Qualifiers final on Sunday last.