Maximo keen on bridging gaps in Golden Jags team

Golden Jaguars Head Coach Marcio Maximo’s intent to develop the national team and the level of local football takes many aspects into account.
It is, by now, no secret that Marcio Maximo is passionate about the subject of development, and, as such, the Senior Men’s National Football Team’s Head Coach has some policies that he believes would benefit the Golden Jaguars down the line.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Maximo explained that he is keen on fixing the age gaps in the team, making way for development in all departments of their game.

“All teams should normally improve always. You don’t have teams that stay completely developed, all teams must improve, some more than others. Our team is so young – the average age is 23 years old – and now you fix the gap that you have before,” Maximo explained.
“Because we don’t have many players, even overseas, at 23 or 24. Overseas, most of the players are 28, or less than 23; that is the focus that we put in now. Of course, we keep the balance for experience, but most should be young players, and they should improve in all departments,” he said.
Currently, a few young international players are training with the local arm of the team. According to Maximo, this move is aimed at bringing the locals’ play up to international standard.
Maximo commented, “We add something for our local players, because it no makes sense (to) bring players who (are at) the same level that we have. We need to select players who are at a higher level (in order) to improve our local players’ level and improve our group as total.
I think that’s why it’s our philosophy to try bring players from high divisions.
“Guyana doesn’t have many, but we still try to discover players, even young players, to help us improve, especially our local group.”
On the topic of the upcoming games and the possibility of seeing more locals in the starting XI, Maximo shared that it is a process, but some surprises might be in
store.
He answered a probe by stating, “This is (a) process! You can’t…it’s not indicative that you take guys straight from the training to lineups without many friendly matches, without some experience. We need to do it gradually, first the guys come to appearance in some parts of the game, and after come to the lineup. It’s a process.
“I think (that), for the next game, (There are) some surprises about players. We’ll have some surprises,” Maximo hinted.
The Golden Jaguars are scheduled to clash with St Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico on June 4 and 8 respectively. The venue for those games is yet to be communicated officially.
Guyana, with 3 points, currently sits in third position in the Group, which is being led by St Kitts and Nevis with 6 points. Trinidad and Tobago are second with 4 points, while Puerto Rico are fourth with 1 point and the Bahamas trail because they are yet to win a game.