The term ‘opportunities’ needs to be clearly defined

Says Jemima Holmes

Firstly, it must be established that the ensuing concerns are in no way a jab at those internationally- based players, who were deemed good enough for the Golden Jaguars’ 22-member squad that was recently selected to commence Guyana’s World Cup 2022 campaign.
Having said that, there needs to be a clear definition of the term ‘opportunities’ by those making the crucial calls for the Golden Jaguars’ composition.
Yes, it was refreshing to see after quite a while, that the technical staff of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Coaches had opted for a majority local squad. Goal-keepers Akel Clarke and Shawn Adonis; Defenders Jeremy Garrett and Nicolai Andrews; Midfielders Ryan Hackett, Job Caesar, Pernell Schultz and Daniel Wilson; and forwards Omari Glasgow, Nicholas Mc Arthur, Kelsey Benjamin and Trayon Bobb were the lucky ones, from an extensive local training camp, to make the cut.
While this group could be considered immensely talented, it seemed, in the face of our Caribbean opposition, this group of players were only good enough to warm the bench.
With the exception of Daniel Wilson and Trayon Bobb, who have been staples in this team before, and Goalkeeper Akel Clarke in the first game against Trinidad and Tobago, the remainder of the locally-based contingent only touched the pitch in the event of a substitution.
While the writer is in no position to say why this decision was taken or to pronounce on the capabilities of those home-grown ballers, this practice is viewed as hypocritical for one reason, that was blasted time and time again.
The record would show, on numerous occasions, Head Coach Marcio Maximo emphasising on the need for local players to be given opportunities in order to better and develop the local programme and give them a chance to shine.
Why then would those same local players only be given a few minutes on the pitch in every game? What can they accomplish or learn in that time? Unless.
Unless, the term ‘opportunities’ is limited only to a plane ride to a foreign country.
On March 9, 2021, during a press engagement, Head Coach Maximo addressed the likelihood of local players in the national team, stating:
“It’s very important to understand the general concepts, because we still compete strongly. But also, with our young players inside the group, because no makes sense you have a national programme if you don’t use our domestic players, including general group. That’s why we are doing,”
“We are very, we are very proud because we include a lot of younger players, players that show a good possibility to make part of the team, open new vision for them, open new hope in their career. And they’re hoping that you do well.
“We are sure that if the players repeat what they do in the training, and the international players repeat the design that wants to play a national team, I’m sure that you can do a good result like you doing unto now.
“Also, we have a lot of potential players here that if you don’t give the chance to show it to me, to programme just outside the tournaments. Okay, I do programming here, but it’s not too honest, you should give a chance for our youth to play a show themselves. Give that opportunity.”
“Because reinforce the national programme we value to players because local players worth be part as well. Because it all makes sense to have the programme here five days per week if you don’t use it now. It’s the lie. It’s not real, real development. Real development you should use, use your players without afraid,”
Then, on March 15, two days before the team’s departure from Guyana, he reiterated:
“We maintain our balance, because in real development, you should include local players. You don’t have real development if you just bring international players, without using our local players, especially young players because they should feel they are part of the process.”
And, “We don’t lose the competitive level, but you also encourage players in Guyana to play, to produce more players. It’s like a cycle, when you have more players that come from here, our chance to compete in higher level will be great, it will be big.”
After all this talk about opportunities being afforded to local players in order to boost morale and local development, the starting XI against Trinidad and Tobago read: Sam Cox (C), Trayon Bobb, Keanu Marsh-Browne, Matthew Briggs, Miguel Scarlett, Akel Clarke (G), Emery Welshman, Daniel Wilson, Kadell Daniel and Callum Harriott. Only three locals initially making it off the bench.
Understandably so, following a 4-0 loss to T&T, Akel Clarke was benched for the game against The Bahamas and a very familiar starting XI was picked. Sam Cox (C), Kadell Daniel, Trayon Bobb, Callum Harriott, Keanu Marsh-Browne, Matthew Briggs, Daniel Wilson, Miguel Scarlett, Kai McKenzie Lyle, Emery Welshman and Terrence Vancooten made the cut; again, only two locals.
When the game against T&T got down to business, Job Caesar, Pernell Schultz, Kelsey Benjamin and Omari Glasgow got the nod for substitutions in the second half, ranging from 56 to 76 minutes in.
In their second qualifying encounter, Omari Glasgow, Pernell Schultz, Job Caesar and Nicholai Andrews got the nod for substitutes, but only after the 70-minute mark.
In mentioning that Omari scored his first international goal, aged 17 years, just 5 minutes after coming onto the pitch, it must be questioned what more could these local players effect had they been given more time.
It’s no secret that Guyana’s second half against Trinidad and Tobago (with a balance of local and international players) was far better than the first. Was it that Trinidad got sloppy? Or was the presence of our local players more striking against the twin-island opposition.
With time on the pitch being the first concern; the second is for those who never made it off the bench. Jeremy Garrett has played football in the United States for the past two years, on scholarship, speaking to the quality of his game. Both Nicholas Mc Arthur and Ryan Hackett have secured international stints, Mc Arthur a scholarship in the United States and Hackett a club stint in Canada. If this group is good enough to make the mark for international eyes, why weren’t they good enough for a substitution? Even Kelsey Benjamin who came in as a substitute in the first game, rode the bench in the second. What changed Kelsey’s validity in a matter of days?
Mischievous as it may be, a thought persists; would these players be given opportunities to start had they been recruited from other countries?
Again, these questions are not to downplay Guyana’s internationally based group but rather to figure why the locally trained players were not given an equal opportunity; much like the Head Coach preached leading up to the games.
Does this mean that travelling and rubbing shoulders with the international counterparts is all it takes to develop the local programme and players? Or was Omari Glasgow’s lone goal for the local contingent, all the proof in the world that the opportunity was provided to the local players?
There will be many eyes glued to the upcoming team lists and playing XIs when Guyana take on St Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico. Will we see another set of opportunistic substitutions? Or will the likes of Glasgow, who has proven his quality, be given an initial go at the goal. What can this group of 12 players return to Guyana and share with their clubmates about what they learnt ‘competing’ for the national team?
In essence, the only thing being asked of the decision makers, is clarity. To say that our local players are not up to the standard where 5 or more of them can play a full 90 minutes or start and complete a half, would be acceptable. But to purport the notion to the general public that they would be included, in the interest of developing our game locally, and then give them half-way chances is bogus.
Point to fact, the talk of presenting opportunities means nothing if our local players continue to ride the bench for 60 out of every 90 minutes. If these are the opportunities, it is certainly not the ones that the Guyanese football fans have hoped for.
Opportunities. Opportunities. Opportunities.