-Says Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover
It has been over 10 years since Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors footballers visited these shores and their clash against Guyana’s Golden Jaguars on September 26 should provide much excitement as both teams prepare for international engagements.
When the two teams last played here in 2000 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden, the match ended in a 1-1 draw while the two teams’ last engagement in the Digicel Cup two years ago also ended in a 1-1 tie.
Both teams are preparing for the 2010 Digicel Cup and while Guyana’s preparation is now kicking off, the Soca Warriors have been on the losing end against Jamaica 3-0 and Panama 3-1 in recent friendly internationals.
However, National Senior coach Wayne “Wiggy” Dover is confident ahead of the upcoming international friendly showdown at the National Stadium organized by the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation in collaboration with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF). He said once the players play to their true potential the result will be a positive one. “Our expectations are high going into the match with Trinidad and we expect a positive result,” said Dover.
According to Dover 30 local players have been named in the national squad which will step up preparation later this week and the technical team is hoping to reduce the squad to 22 before the epic battle against the Soca Warriors.
Several overseas based players are expected to join the squad but it is still unclear who are the players coming for the engagements.
Central defender Howard Lowe is just one a few seasoned players retained from the Golden Jaguars World Cup squad that suffered a first round exit in the qualifying series against nemesis Suriname. However, several of the players called up toured Suriname last year when the Jaguars won the Suriname Independence tournament beating the host nation, French Guiana and Netherlands Antilles to lift the title.
Two of those teams Suriname and Netherlands Antilles along with St. Lucia are grouped with Guyana for the first round of the Digicel Cup from October 13-17.
The 30 players called are: (goalkeepers) Richie Richardson, Ronson Williams, O’Neal Carter and Marvin Griffith.
(Defenders) Howard Lowe, Sherman David, Justin Collins, Selwyn Isaacs, Kester Jacobs, Colin Nelson, Kris Comacho, Trevon Lytcott, Denver Dennis. (Midfielders) Philbert Moffat, Llyton Ramsey, Glenorvan, Edmonds, Delyon Josiah, Pierre Joseph, Dwayne Jaconbs, Dwight Peters, Mustapha Haqq, Marlon Benjamin, Norvil Adrians.
(Strikers) Devin Millington, Warren Gilkes, Clive Andries, Stephon Hope, Dwayne Ali, Anthony Abrams, and Clive Nobrega.