Timeframe for resumption of sports activities still at Ground Zero
Undercooked or underprepared? Whichever adjective one opts to select as a manner of description, could possibly sum up Guyana’s international football preparatory existence ahead of their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March next year.
The description of the Golden Jaguars current reality, is a byproduct of the existing sports landscape owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
After all, sports and its relevant practitioners and administrators, are dwelling in the realm of Ground Zero.
The Golden Jaguars in particular, are faced with an unfortunate reality and risk entering this important national assignment short of the ideal level of preparation following months of inactivity.
With uncertainty surrounding a timeline for the green lighting of a preparatory phase by the national Covid-19 Task Force, Guyana’s participation appears destined for an ill- fated ending. We have already witnessed the consequences of poor preparation in the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ shambolic showing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Could a similar episode be broadcast during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers if the current situation is not remedied or improved? That is a stark probability owing to the times which currently envelope our existence.
While the complete reactivation of the sports sector is implausible and incomprehensible, the revival of the national football team’s programmes are important and could serve as a platform for analysis of health structures and policies, similarly or in the vein of the airport’s systematic reopening, which transpired over a structured window.
However, the reality is that sport is not afforded the equivalent importance of other sectors given its historical and cultural miss-management by dissimilar government administrations. This position appears unlikely to be modified. To date, the local governing body, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), has crafted a 48-member provisional roster in an aim to qualify for the prestigious championship.
Unfortunately, this has been the only information dispersed to the public on the subject of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from the corridors of Section- K Campbellville. Officially, silence has befallen on and unfolded onto the football fraternity, many of whom are unaware of the status of discussions and the level of communication (if any) between the federation and the Ministry of
Health on the subject matter of looming international engagements.
According to a source close to the federation, only approval from the government via the National Covid-19 Task Force will afford the necessary green light for the commencement of preparation for the important and impending international assignments. While the aforesaid prerequisite of consent is logical, the resultant and enduring muteness from the pertinent authorities, the GFF, the Ministry of Health and those of similar ilk, has compounded the sport’s continued actuality in the domain of Ground Zero, a plane of being which appears destined to become the new normal.
Concacaf, following discussions with FIFA, opted to reorganize the World Cup Qualifiers which was initially scheduled to commence this month. Guyana was drawn in Group-F in the first stage of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers. The Golden Jaguars were placed with traditional rival Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas.
They were set to commence their path to Qatar on October 8th away to Trinidad and Tobago. Scheduled to follow was a home fixture against The Bahamas on the 13th. Meanwhile, the Golden Jaguars were pegged to compete in November away to St. Kitts and Nevis on the 13th before concluding against Puerto Rico on home soil four days later.
The qualifiers however are now billed for March next year.
Guyana’s best showing in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers occurred in the 2014 edition, as they romped to the third stage of qualifying. This is the penultimate section of the confederation’s qualification process.