Experienced National Rugby player and former “Green Machine” Captain Ryan Gonsalves is of the view that the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) needs more funding considering the success and exposure the team has brought the country in 2016.
Players from North and South in a heated exchange for possession
After winning their eighth Caribbean Sevens title in 2016, Guyana booked a third travel to the prestigious Hong Sevens Tournament in April but to be properly prepared for the tournament they will need adequate financial support from both corporate entities and the Government.
Gonsalves stated, “2016 was a pretty good year for us and this will be our third trip for Hong Kong and we are looking to go deeper in the tournament; it’s very different from Caribbean tournament, it’s a tough tournament and in order to make this venture successful, we need the support, the financial support.”
The squad which is undergoes fitness work in the National Park, weekly has begun their preparations early for the trip to Asia but Gonsalves feels that alone will not be enough.
“We have a good blend of youth and experience and so it would be good to get the funding so we can have a camp to get the players well organised for the tournament because the difference between Caribbean and international level, is the speed of the game. At the Caribbean level one has about three seconds, at the international scene it is about one second” he explained.
He added, “We need to get more exposure and the only thing will help us do better, is getting some exposure with teams like the US so we can get used to the speeds at the international level.”
Adamant that there is need for more support, the player is grateful for the support of companies such as Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited, John Fernandes Limited, Fitness Express, among others and stated, “We are looking for the government’s support this year, so we can go further and even better our 2016 performance.”
In terms of current preparation, the player said, “Basically the year now start, we have been doing endurance work, most of the guys are arriving and we are beginning to work hard and get focused for Hong Kong.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the GRFU held its competitive match of the new season, which saw North tacking South, with the North side winning 35-31 in the bruising encounter.
Randell McArthur led North’s route with 3 tries, Patrick King (2), Avery Corbin (1) and Godfrey Broomes with four conversions.
For South, Lancelot Adonis (one try and one conversion), Lloyd Anderson (two tries) Jamal Angus (one try), Blaze Bailey (one try) and Ryan Gonsalves (two conversions) impressed but failed to get their team of the line in the dying moments of the match.
The players currently in training for the Hong Sevens trip are: Avery Corbin, Blaise Bailey, Claudius Butts, Dwayne Schroeder, Godfrey Brooms, Jamal Angus, Kevin McKenzie, Lancelot Adonis, Osaie McKenzie, Patrick King, Peabo Hamilton, Richard Staglon, Rickford Cummings, Ronald Mayers, Rupert Giles, Ryan Gonsalves, Rondell McArthur and Vallon Adams.
