Speedy left-winger Dwain Jacobs is relishing the challenge of putting in quality performances in the Golden Jaguars upcoming engagements to secure a place in the squad for the opening two World Cup Qualifiers versus Mexico and Costa Rica next month.
Jacobs who plays for Alpha United is another major player making a comeback after a long injury lay-off for the Jamaica friendly tomorrow.
“Dugin” as he is commonly referred to in the local football fraternity, was last seen in Golden Jaguars uniform moving forcefully down the left flank on the night of Novemeber 11 versus Trinidad, as he terrorized veteran Soca Warriors right-back Carlos Edwards and the defense with his pace and crossing to strikers Carl Cort and Gregory Richardson.
However his last competitive football action was in the semi-finals of the Banks Beer Cup last Christmas and in his general absence from the national team, he faces a stiff task to regain his spot with the likes of English-based Ricky Shakes and Howard Newton, Trinidad-based Trayon Bobb, Alpha compatriot Dwight Peters and USA-based Brandon Beresford all pushing hard for a similar starting place on the flanks.
Stabroek Sport spoke to Jacobs briefly at the team’s final training session at Providence Stadium on Tuesday before they departed for Jamaica and he spoke generally about his injury and his national ambitions over the next month. “Every time one gets a chance to represent their country it’s a great privilege and I’m glad to be finally in the team again after my injury problems,” stated the 25-year-old.
He continued: “My injury according to the team doctors was a meniscus tear knee injury. I first got it when I was in America last year and I played through it during the qualifiers last year and for Alpha before I eventually had to stop playing and get it looked after.”
Jacobs who made his debut for the Golden Jaguars in a 2008 friendly versus St. Vincent at Blairmont ground said he hopes to put in a performance in Jamaica that will make Guyana proud.
Given the other wing options around, Jacobs was under no illusion at the task at hand to be one of the players on the plane to Mexico.
But he emphasized that he is ready to put in the hard work in the next two friendly internationals and in the team camp in order to make this a reality for himself.
“Competition is tight with the wing players. Given how long I was out I am not on the same level of match fitness as most of them who have been playing football regularly. But I must thank coach Shabazz and the team medical staff in Mr. Ivan Persaud and Miss Debita Harripersaud for guiding me through this injury,” stated Jacobs, whose only international goal was versus Guadeloupe in the 2010 Digicel Caribbean Cup.
“So right now I’m just working hard on getting close to my fitness and form of late last year, so hopefully by the time the squad to Mexico is picked I will be one of the names on the list.”
