Starting with only 12 team members, the abundantly talented “Lady Jags” now boasts close to 60 vibrant female players who are bent on taking Guyana a far way in the world of football.
This was demonstrated when last year’s senior Lady Jags created history by qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, an achievement for the first time by a Guyana football team. That advancement had meant that the ladies were just one step closer to qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament, and though they did not make it to the very end, their juniors are vigorously heading in that direction.
Women’s football has been around for decades, but usually seen only at charity games and for physical exercise.
Before the 1970s, football was seen as a man’s game. But the breakthrough of organized women’s football came in the 70s. Today, it is seen as the most prominent team sport for women in several countries.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, technical director and coach Mark Rodrigues, along with programme director Colin Baker, explained that the Lady Jags team was formed in 2008 as an all-Guyanese team, comprising members from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Guyana.
The team gained the sobriquet “Lady Jags” from members who were part of the original launch of the programme in Turks and Caicos. That name, say the directors, derived from the Guyana men’s team name, the “Golden Jaguars”. Baker told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that it was Rodrigues who brought the idea of a women’s football team to the fore, and he described it as “fitting” since he was already equipped with a vast knowledge of football coordination.
By mutual agreement, the two worked together to identify Guyanese players across North America and Guyana. Further, Rodrigues said, when the team was in its initial stage, a proposal was sent to the Guyana Football Federation about how women’s’ football could be developed here.
Being a Guyanese himself, and a football player who later transitioned into coaching, Rodrigues noted that he felt the need to give back to his country through promoting the development of the sport, “… because those years were my most formative years and memorable moments of my life; it was always my hope to give back something to Guyana, and knowing that Guyana didn’t have anything much going for women’s football, everything just fell into place at the right time; I sort of semi-retired in my business life and I decided “I’m doing this,” he stated.
Meanwhile, before teaming up with Rodrigues, Baker had already been actively involved in pushing Guyana’s football through the Guyana Sports Development Foundation Inc, a non- governmental organisation (NGO) of which he is president.
“That NGO is registered with the state of Florida, and created initially to assist in sports development of Guyanese in and out of Guyana, who are eligible to represent Guyana in a particular sports discipline, from the nursery through the collegiate to the professional levels,” Baker said.
Baker has been involved in football at all levels for more than 12 years through the Guyana Sports Development Foundation, and directly with the Guyana Football Federation, while “Coach Mark”, as he is referred to by the players, has been in the football fraternity for more than 41 years.
Talent and diversity
The players for both senior and junior teams are chosen through various ways, said Rodrigues, who explained that owing to his years of coaching in North America, he has become familiar with many of the players through coaching sessions, the Internet, and Facebook, among others.
The Lady Jags, he said, are all football players in their respective schools and colleges.
Baker told the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that currently they are constantly being contacted by interested players, and “would continue to expand their membership as well as continue their journey to greater heights.” Most important, he said, is providing opportunities, both educational and professional, for players.
“That is one of the things we are looking to emphasize. There are also scholarship opportunities for them if they continue with good grades; most of the overseas-based players are attending colleges and are balancing both very well,” he noted.
Baker recalled the launch of the Scotia Bank Pepsi School football programme, which started last year, as one of their most recent accomplishments.
“Lady Jags” have won games against Barbados, St Kitts, St Vincent, Suriname and Cuba, Turks and Caicos among others.
There is no age limit for players to qualify in the team. “The limit is based on body strength… So if you are fifty and can beat a 20-year old in football, you can play,” the directors revealed.
In the meantime, the Lady Jags U-20, which was in Guyana last week to compete in the Caribbean Football Union, (CFU) would be leaving for their respective countries and schools.
Of all the countries around the world, only 16 female teams will be participating in the World Cup Finals.
Both Rodrigues and Baker called on the Guyana government as well as corporate companies, to assist further in keeping football at a high level. “It is very expensive; it is not just getting on the field and playing football, there is a lot of coordination, a lot of planning; without support, whether financial or otherwise, we can’t fulfill all of these… We therefore appeal to you to become a partner of this program, help shape the future for Guyana’s youth and sports while at the same time providing academic opportunities.” (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
Comments are closed.