With the euphoria flowing from the historic success of the Golden Jaguars who recently defeated Trinidad and Tobago to advance to the third round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, the achievements of the Under-17 and Under-20 Lady Jaguars outfits seemed to have paled alongside their senior male counterparts.
However both of these junior female sides have had commendable performances.
In August the Under-17s won in their three-team group consisting of Anguilla and Curacao and earlier this month the Under-20s went unbeaten in their round matches against Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla and Dominican Republic.
One player who was ever present in all of these encounters was 16-year old Canada-born Sara Vaughan.
The player qualified to play for the national side through her mother Rebecca Vaughan who hails from Berbice.
She made her debut for the Junior Lady Jags during the Under-17 matches this year and her versatility in both the Under-17 and Under-20 teams has made her a valuable addition to the female Junior Jaguars squad. Stabroek Sport connected with Vaughan via an e-mail interview.
CB: Describe for the Guyanese public your background playing football before you played for Guyana this year. How long have you been playing football in Canada and which clubs you played for?
SV: I started playing soccer in the backyard with my dad at the age of two in England! I played for my first competitive team at the age of eleven. I played for Eastside Football Club in Seattle under Coach Michelle French who is a former member of the US women’s national team. Our team made it to the final state championship game in 2006, but we lost on a penalty shootout.
I am currently playing for the Ajax Football Club under Coaches Clinton Daniels and Robert Francis. They are both great coaches and have taught me a lot.
CB: Who encouraged you to make the step to play for your adopted country?
SV: My mom received an e-mail from our relatives in Guyana who knew I played competitive soccer. The Lady Jags had done really well making it to the Gold Cup finals in October of 2010.
CB: Who is your favourite professional football player?
SV: My favourite player is Abby Wambach, striker for the US women’s national team. I admire how she uses her height to dominate and overpower opposition defences. It is a physical game and like her, I usually pick up a couple of cards every season.
CB: How have you enjoyed your early experience of representing Guyana at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels?
SV: It has been a phenomenal ride and I hope it continues! I am training hard here at home with my club team and in the backyard with my brothers.
CB: Did you find the level of football playing for the Under-20 girls more difficult than the Under-17 girls? What’s your view?
SV: There is a ton of raw talent and skill on the U-17 team and the future looks promising for many players like Ursuline (Ursuline Primus the Under-17 striker) and Diane (Diane Modokin the Under-17 captain). The Under-20 team has more experience with players at the collegiate level, and from the UK academies. I have learnt a lot from both teams. The future looks bright on both fronts.
CB: Some of the senior players in the Golden Jaguars team, who came from countries like Canada and England, have at times suggested that adjusting to playing in the heat in Guyana has been tough. How have you been coping with this?
SV: I have played at temperatures like this in University Showcase tournaments in the Southern USA. Toronto also has a long hot humid summer. I hydrate before the games and try to push myself in the pre-match training.
CB: Have you ever played in such a dramatic football game before like the 2-1 win versus Dominican Republic, where you guys basically won with the final kick of the game?
SV: We had already done enough to go through before the Dominican game. The Under-17 game against Anguilla was more pressure because we needed to win in order to progress. The Dominican game was awesome though – it was a really sweet free kick in the last minute and the crowd support was incredible!
CB: In the Under-17 and Under-20 teams, it was noticeable that you played in different positions. Your coach Chris Brown theorized that he sees you as a versatile player that can play in any position. Do you agree with this assessment?
SV: My first technical coach, Samir Bjelanovic taught me that it is important to be able to play every position. He even tried me in goal, but I was hopeless in net! I want to contribute and will try any position.
CB: Which position on the football field do you think enables you to bring out the best in your game?
SV: I really enjoy playing centre midfield. I like to be the enforcer in the middle of the pack.
CB: Were you ever close to being selected for the Canada Under-17 and Under-20 teams?
SV: I am not Canadian, I am English and Guyanese! It was the opportunity to try out for my heritage country during a training camp an hour from where we live in Ontario that opened up this opportunity. I have never played competitive soccer in England and don’t know much about their selection process.
CB: Hypothetically speaking if your performances at youth level for Guyana continue to improve and Canada comes calling, what would you do?
SV: I am training hard to improve my chances with the U-20 Lady Jags and break into the senior squad. I am very thankful to the Guyana Football Federation for the faith that they have shown in me and the opportunity that they have given to me. Coaches Beresford, France, Rodriguez, and Brown have helped improve my game immensely. I love my heritage country and will wear the Lady Jags uniform with pride whenever I am asked to do so.
CB: Away from the football field, what type of person are you?
SV: I am a fiercely competitive person on and off the field. I like to spend time with my friends and hang out like every other teenager. I have four brothers including a one-year-old who I am teaching to dribble and pass with a tennis ball.
