U17 National Players During One Of Their Training Sessions
GUYANA’S DEBUT CONCACAF U17 BOYS’ SQUAD SHAPED BY CSEC EXAM DATES – GFF
The selection process for Guyana’s first appearance at the Concacaf U17 Championship for boys in May has been decided according to the availabilities of eligible players sitting CSEC exams this year, GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood said on Friday.
The scheduling for the tournament has meant that participating Caribbean Football Union nations have had to factor in study commitments and exam timetables as part of their tournament planning and squad preparation.
Players selected for a preliminary U17 squad are currently preparing for the tournament, with at least five training sessions per week at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence under the guidance of GFF coaching staff. The final squad will be announced on 15 April.
“The GFF is committed to ensuring our young players focus on their education as a priority. We have worked closely with parents and put contingency measures in place to prepare the best talent available to us for our boys’ debut at the Concacaf U17 Championship,” said Greenwood. “Some of our more experienced U17 players will either be absent or only be able to play some of our matches.”
The Concacaf U17 Championship takes place between 1st -16th May at the IMG Academy in Florida, with Guyana drawn in Group G with Honduras, Haiti and El Salvador. The top four placed teams from a total of 20 participating countries will qualify for the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil. Guyana’s U17 boys are ranked 18th out of 41 nations in the Concacaf region.
“This is the first time boys from Guyana will compete at this level in this age group. We are extremely confident our players will make the nation proud by giving their all in what is a tough group,” Greenwood said. “After our success at the U15 Souliga Cup in 2017, this U17 tournament is as a big opportunity for players nurtured through the GFF’s Academy Training Centre system to continue their development within our national pathway.”