Guyana’s national football team preparing for the Digicel Cup finals which begins on Friday lost 0-1 to Barbados in a friendly encounter in Trinidad yesterday.
According to reports, the game ended prematurely after a Barbadian player was injured. Barbados were leading 1-0 at the time of the stoppage. Guyana coach, Jamal Shabazz, said after the match :”I think the game was going good, they had a penalty and it was unfortunate what happened.
“We were trying to find our rhythm and the exercise was useful ” He also noted : “We were without about four starters, so it gave us an opportunity to see other players who would normally be among the reserves.” Despite his team being behind at the time of the stoppage, Shabazz was still upbeat about how preparations were proceeding.
“Our preparations are going well so far and we are meeting the objectives set. Our fitness level is coming along and with a couple of days we should reach our goal.”
Meanwhile, Haiti secured its Digicel Caribbean Cup berth in the finals with a 2-0 win over Bermuda in the second leg of their play-off Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain, Couva, yesterday.
On Sunday, Cadet Eliphane and Lormera Roody scored to give Haiti a 2-0 win at the same venue.
And yesterday, Eliphane was again on spot when he put in the opening goal in the 25th minute, before Alexandre Eouciout’s second-half strike secured passage on a 4-0 goal aggregate.
Haiti is in the Sedley Joseph Group alongside T&T, Barbados and Martinique, and begins its finals campaign against Martinique at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on Friday.
