Barcelona FC’s Braithwaite aims to impact youth footballers on visit to Guyana

Danish National Forward and FC Barcelona player Martin Braithwaite arrived in Guyana yesterday as part of a capacity building workshop between the Danish Football Association (DBU) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

The 31 year old whose father is Guyanese and mother of Danish origin will be here from June 22-26 to help in areas of the sport locally.

He was officially presented to the press on Wednesday afternoon during a conference at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.

Speaking there, he said “I am looking forward to being an ambassador and inspiring boys and girls and developing football.”

GFF president, Wayne Forde, who was also at Wednesday’s Press conference said, “A few years back this was just a discussion, and here we are, making tangible steps to a relationship that will endure for many years.”

The forward has 60 caps for the Danish national team, including selection for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2020.

During the course of his visit, he will pay a courtesy call on Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., visit the proposed D’Urban Park site which will host the GFF’s planned national football stadium, before being entertained by a novelty futsal match at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Tomorrow (June 24), he will visit the place of his father’s birth in Charlestown and participate in the launch of the UEFA Assist/DBU Women’s Development League at the OFF National Training Centre.

Before heading home to Europe, Braithwaite will also take time out to visit a grassroots football tournament and watch the GFF Blue Water UI5 Girls’ Development League at the GFF National Training Centre.

The programme was facilitated by UEFA Assist and CONCACAF.