By Avenash Ramzan
Former Golden Jaguars’ defender, Walter Moore, and his club coach Kristian Heames will conduct a Talent Identification programme in Berbice this weekend, which will result in potential players being identified for trials and possible professional contracts in Europe.
This initiative is part of the new philosophy of the technical programme of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), which actively seeks to involve past and present national players as part of the technical development programme.
At a press conference on Friday morning at the Pegasus Hotel, President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, said the local governing body for the sport is overwhelmed with excitement at the prospects of such a programme coming to Guyana.
“We’re proud of the opportunity to have Walter here and (for him) to have a first-hand look at the remarkable work that we’re doing through our Technical Director and our Technical Staff and our new Technical Development Structure in making the priorities of the Guyana Football Federation football and football first,” Forde stated.
He continued, “There is a lot of emphasis being placed on our youth development and I’m glad that the scouting and talent ID activities will focus on the Under-17 group, which is the group that is going to break out in an another couple of years and be our Golden Jaguars.”
Forde said he is also enthused that apart from Moore, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, both players with considerable national playing experience, is onboard with the programme.
“One of the points that I think needs to be emphasised is the strategy of the Guyana Football Federation, where we are doing everything within our power to include former players in our developmental programmes,” Forde asserted.
Moore spoke of how the idea came into fruition, while Richardson expressed his elation at being granted the opportunity to work with the next generation of players.
Moore said, “This idea came about a few months ago when I was actually following the Guyana Football Federation page on Facebook and I saw what (Technical Director) Mr. (Ian) Greenwood with these academies and schools and stuff like that…and I thought to myself like if I had opportunities like that, with somebody who’s been involved in professional coaching or a professional agent that plays in Europe, I would have probably been further in my career. Nevertheless, I spoke to my coach and I asked him what he thought about a trip to Guyana to scout some very good young players and he was said it was a good idea.”
Moore added that the initiative forms part of his desire to give back to the sport which has made him into a household name in Guyana’s football.
“I think I did enough on the field already and now it’s time for a new level, a new step, a new beginning,” Moore reasoned.
Technical Director of the GFF, Ian Greenwood, welcomed the initiative, noting that it falls flush in line with the mandate of the Federation to promote and develop youth football, while Moore’s coach at his Finland club, Kristian Heames, labelled the talent ID, set to take place in New Amsterdam, Berbice, as an exciting opportunity for Guyana’s football.
Moore will join the list of former national players who are employed by the GFF in the execution of the technical development programmes, the others being Charles Pollard, Bryan Joseph, Anthony Benfield, Tricia Munroe and Akilah Castello.
