CHARLES “LILY” POLLARD – HONOURED TO BE ASSISTANT COACH; WAYNE DOVER SAYS COMPETITIVE GAME AHEAD ON TUESDAY
25th March, 2017; Georgetown: “It’s a privilege anytime you’re called up to represent your country despite the situation, this time it is no different. It was an honour when I got the phone call to be assistant to Wayne Dover…it’s only fitting that I give him my support,” said Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard, the newly appointed Assistant Coach said.
Pollard was called to the position following Dover being appointed interim national Head Coach for the International Friendly against Martinique on Tuesday, 28th March at the MSC Ground, Linden.
The soft-spoken Assistant Coach who has been an outstanding former national defender and captain has been coaching for approximately four years. While he currently coaches Club Sando, a Trinidadian professional club, he began his coaching career at Slingerz FC in Guyana.
“I’m still learning the game as a coach. I was excellent as a player but coaching is a different factor…I’m enhancing my education,” Pollard who represented Guyana for approximately 17 years stated.
In commenting about coaching players who were youth players and sometimes team mates during his years as a player, Pollard said: “I think it will be easier. I think we have the relationship from then to now. They’ve always respected me when I used to play, the transition was easy. I think some of the guys here have not experienced football at the highest level and need some support. That’s where I come in, to share my knowledge and nurture them.”
Looking ahead, the coach who played professionally in Trinidad and USA as a player noted that while the current national team has a good blend of youth and experience with a good attitude, the mental game needs to be improved. However, he is interested in sharing his talent and experience: “I’m positive, I would not want to be a part of something I’m not sure of or won’t be successful. Guyanese are a very competitive type of people physically but if we work on the mental part, we could do a great lot.”
Meanwhile, the Golden Jaguars continue daily training sessions at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora as they prepare for the International Friendly on Tuesday. In an invited comment, Interim Head Coach Dover said it will be a competitive game and he is working assiduously to give the nation a good result: “Martinique is preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and they’re coming with a pretty strong team. We’re looking forward to the challenge, we know it will be a challenge but we will work diligently to ensure that we build the squad into a unit that will go out there and play so we can get as positive result. We will not approach timidly, we want to give a good showing especially to our fans so that they can go away feeling satisfied based on the result of the night.”
While most of the squad have arrived, Marcel Barrington, Samuel Cox and Warren Creavalle are expected on Sunday.
Patrons are encouraged to wear yellow; admission to Tuesday’s game is $1,500
For more information, please contact:
Debra Francis (Ms.)
Communications and Public Relations Officer
Tel: 592 227 8758 ext. 105 (o)