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Alex Thomas guides promoted Slingers to second in Guyana Premier League - Jamaican striker Beckford racks up 17 goals, eight assists
August 27, 2024
After finishing second in his debut season coaching in the Guyanese Elite League at Slingers Football Club, Jamaican head coach Alex Thomas has labelled his first year as a blessing.
"It was great and it was a well-put-together season in the Guyanese Premier League. Coaching the Slingers football team who are coming from the Promotion League to the Elite League is a blessing. I came a week before the start of the competition and to achieve this is a remarkable feeling," stated Thomas, who played central defence for Jamaica's Under-17 team on its historic qualification to the FIFA U17 World Cup in New Zealand in 1999.
The coach also captained Arnett Gardens in the Jamaican premier league.
Thomas, who previously coached in Jamaica at Arnett Gardens, Molynes United, Frazsiers Whip and Wolmer's Boys', saw his team end the 2024 season undefeated on 46 points, winning 14 of 18 games, and drawing the other four.
Slingers Football Club finished four points behind champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
While his team ended the season undefeated and yet missed out on the title, Thomas expressed being pleased with how his team went about business throughout the season.
"I'm not disappointed, this is just a lesson learnt," he reacted to their finish. "The GDF are the defending champions and they have been together for the past three seasons. Therefore, they are a quality team that is well coached, while my team is a particularly new team.
"We had new players, a new style of play and I had to take time to learn the culture so we now have to build on this for next season," Thomas added.
One of Slingers' most influential players for the season was Jamaican Kemar Beckford, who netted 17 goals while contributing eight assists.
Thomas shared that having previous knowledge of Beckford's goal-scoring prowess made it an easy job to guide him in the Guyanese League.
"I actually coached Kemar Beckford at Frazsiers Whip, so I know what he can do, and he has also proven that in the Jamaica Premier League before. So he came here and had a big impact and was a boost to the frontline. We can only add to this, and getting him to start this way at the start of next season would be a blessing," he said.
Going forward, Thomas is keen to deliver a championship in the 2025 season.
"The main thing is to learn the mindset of the players and once we get over that hump it would be great things next season. Next season is nothing less than the championship.
