Gurley Pleased

Interim coach of Vincy Heat, Roger Gurley, is pleased with the performance of team’s first international friendly played last Sunday in Guyana, as it prepares to meet Canada in June, in a two way tie in second round action of the CONCACAF Zone of the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers.{{more}}

This consolation is despite the team’s 0-1 loss to the Guyanese. But Gurley told SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday night, minutes after the team arrived from the South American continent, that there were a lot of positives that came out of the encounter.

“It was the first international senior cap for eight of the players, and they now have a feel of what is required at this level”, Gurley said.

“The players are young and talented, but gave a good account of themselves”, Gurley added.

“From this match, they were able to see the areas where they went wrong and have committed themselves to working harder”, the coach revealed.

Gurley admitted that the teams need more of these types of games, from which they can “develop more mental toughness”.

Matching both teams in last Sunday’s encounter, Gurley was high in praise for his charges, whom he said came up against a more experienced Guyanese outfit, with most of them plying their football trade in Trinidad and Tobago in the pro league there.

On the down side, Gurley thumbed the hours of training as being a hindrance to the players’ development.

“The one and a half hours of training is inadequate going into the qualifiers”, Gurley, once a FIFA referee said.

“How much tactical and technical work can be done in this time?” he questioned.

“More time is needed to properly train the guys”, Gurley said.

Gurley, who is one of the persons vyeing for the post of Technical Director, also pointed to the need for a Technical Director with international experience to be on the ground to assist in the team’s tactical and technical preparations.

Reflecting on Sunday’s match which the Guyanese dubbed a grudge match, having been defeated last year in the Digicel final in Trinidad and Tobago, Gurley said that the match was played under some soggy conditions.

“Our players started cold after a two hour drive to the ground, and they did not have the proper footwear to deal with the conditions”, Gurley said.

Referring to the Blairmont Ground as “real terrible”, Gurley said that the Vincentians struggled under the conditions, but got into their own, and eventually were able to acquit themselves well.

Guyana’s goal came in the tenth minute of the match, scored by Gregory Richardson.

Reports also say that both teams squandered other scoring chances.

The two teams are expected to play a return fixture here Sunday, January 27, at the Victoria Park.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines will play Guadeloupe in the French territory late February or early March. There are other international fixtures in the making, but which are yet to be firmed up by the executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation.

Vincy Heat is set to play Canada at the Arnos Vale Playing Field June 15, and the second leg in Canada a week later. (RT)