Slingerz FC will face off with São Raimundo Esporte Clube on Saturday (Jemima Holmes Photo)
Recently qualified Elite League team Slingerz Football Club will this Saturday, February 3rd, come up against São Raimundo Esporte Clube in an international friendly match in preparation for the Elite League’s commencement later this month.
The game will be hosted in Boa Vista, Brazil, and as such, the Guyanese team travelled to Boa Vista, through the Lethem trail on Thursday. Before the team’s departure, however, Guyana Times Sport was able to catch up with Head Coach Charles Pollard at a practice session at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Center (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD); where the Head Coach shared how preparation has gone since booking their spot in the Elite League three weeks ago.
Slingerz FC Head Coach, Charles Pollard (Jemima Holmes Photo)
“I think we didn’t have much time to prepare; it’s only our first week, 8 days. Brought in some new players, they take a little while to blend, but I’m feeling a little confident with the squad itself. But with the preparation, I think we about 40-50% with preparation. Not complaining and making excuses, but the game will be a difficult game; but we up to the challenge,” Pollard shared with this publication.
Western Tigers’ Curtez Kellman and Marcus Wilson, Santos’s Darron Niles and Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC’s Shemar Fraser are among the players who were picked up by Slingerz in the recently closed January transfer window.
In explaining what he was looking to add to the team, Pollard noted that the group was carefully handpicked.
Curtez Kellman and Darron Niles are among the new faces that were ‘handpicked’ for the Slingerz team (Jemima Holmes Photo)
The coach divulged, “I want to play football a specific way, and these guys that I brought in, I handpicked them. These are ingredients I need to make my team fluctuate and play better. I think I looked for quality, leadership, a little bit of desire, and also discipline.”
Turning his attention to Saturday’s friendly, Pollard related that it would offer a different experience to the Guyanese team. He explained: “A lot respect must go to the President [of Slingerz FC, Javid Ali], he did his best to make this game possible. I think it’s a lot of sacrifice, a lot of funds; but he reached out to the Brazilian team and we negotiate, agree and disagree to certain things, and then we come to agree that, look, we can play the game”.
The former Golden Jaguars international turned coach added, “I think it’s a good thing for the players. It’s something different in Guyana football especially. Most times we just play, we train, and waiting for the tournament. I think this brings a different experience to the guys.”
The Head Coach went on to respond to inquiries about the result he is hoping to get from the friendly. “I don’t know what to expect from the team basically, but I think we’re prepared. We going with fight. I think a win would be good for us, for our morale; but we looking to see that players enjoy themselves in the game most of all,” Pollard revealed to Guyana Times Sport.
The team opposing Slingerz has been competing in the Brazilian Championship Serie D, and has won nine consecutive league titles from 2016 to 2023. Meanwhile, the Elite League Season 6 is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, February 25th at the NTC, Providence, EBD. (Jemima Holmes)
