The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has appointed Marco Bonofiglio as the new Head Coach of the Junior Jaguars U17 Boys Team.
The GFF’s partnership with Spanish club Racing Madrid made this strategic move possible.
According to a release from the GFF, Bonofiglio, who has over 25 years of experience as a professional player and coach, will spearhead preparations for the FIFA U17 Boys World Cup qualifiers in Costa Rica, scheduled for February 7 to 16, 2025.
Bonofiglio’s coaching credentials are impressive, having previously led ProStars FC and Pickering FC in League 1 Ontario.
His recent accomplishments include nurturing talent within Italy’s Serie C and guiding teams to victory in several championships, including the Ontario Provincial Cup.
His tactical acumen and focus on player development make him an ideal fit for the Junior Jaguars.
Collaborating with Racing Madrid further enhances the team’s capabilities by introducing two additional technical experts.
Ahjton Roberts, a Strength and Conditioning Coach with over a decade of experience working with elite athletes—including National and Olympic competitors—joins the ranks.
As the founder of the 180° High-Performance Programme, Roberts specializes in injury prevention and sport-specific training, tailoring programs to meet performance analytics.
Dr. Steve Gennaro, a sports science and performance analysis expert, will join him. Gennaro, who holds a Ph.D. in Youth Studies from McGill University, brings a wealth of experience in player development from North America and Europe.
He is a visiting scholar at the University of Bologna, focusing on research on soccer coaching.
As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Racing Madrid and the GFF in October 2023, Racing Madrid will cover the salaries of Bonofiglio, Roberts, and Gennaro.
Meanwhile, the GFF will manage the technical team’s travel and local expenses during their preparation camp in Guyana and throughout the competition in Costa Rica.
Steve Nijjar, President of Racing Madrid, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “Racing Madrid 1914 FC is thrilled to support the GFF as we work together under our MoU. We are impressed by the GFF’s commitment to preparing the team for the FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers and recognizing the potential within the players.
It’s an honor to collaborate with President Forde and his council, and we aim to create a high-performance environment that enhances local coaching capacity.”
Echoing this sentiment, GFF President Wayne Forde welcomed the new appointments, emphasizing the importance of this collaboration.
“We are excited to have Coach Marco Bonofiglio, Mr. Ahjton Roberts, and Dr. Steve Gennaro in Guyana. Their contributions extend beyond immediate competition; they will help foster growth in our coaching framework and leave a lasting legacy for youth football in our nation. Our local coaching staff has done an outstanding job over the past three months, and we believe this partnership will bring substantial value.”
Bryan Joseph, the GFF’s Technical Director, expressed optimism about the upcoming preparations.
“We anticipate great advancements as we welcome Coach Bonofiglio, Mr. Roberts, and Dr. Gennaro. Their expertise will significantly boost our chances of success and make a lasting impact on youth football in Guyana.”
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