With less than 17 days remaining before Guyana open their 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Campaign, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have officially shortlisted a 30 member provisional squad featuring local and overseas players yesterday.
Head-Coach Jamaal Shabazz during an invited comment said it was going to be a highly competitive squad and very difficult to select the final roster as the players are evenly skilled.
Shabazz further said the final squad will be selected based on the players’ ability to adopt to the team tactical patterns, noting the management staff has done a great job scouting and exposing players during their previous four international friendlies.
He added that during all the games, the management staff fielded different starting XI’s while making at least five changes in each game. According to Shabazz, this process allowed the setup to create depth which he is very happy about.
The Golden Jaguars will open their campaign away from home on June 10th against St. Vincent and Grenadines before returning four days later for the second leg at the National Stadium in Providence.
The overseas born and based contingent which will see the return of Ricky Shakes (Boreham Wood FC, ) after a three year hiatus, will also include Neil Danns (Bolton Wanderers), Matthew Briggs (Millwall FC), Walter Moore (FF Jaro), Trayon Bobb (Caledonia AIA), Pernel Shultz (Caledonia AIA), Chris Nurse (Carolina Railhawks), Emery Welshman (Real Monarchs), Kevin Beaton (USA), Brandon Beresford (Canada), Adrian Butters (Toronto FC), Daniel Whyte (Canada), Anthony Whyte (Canada), Akel Clarke (Central FC) and newcomers Sam Cox, Marcel Barrington and goalkeeper Matthew Allick.
Barrington, 20, currently plies his trade for English Premier League (EPL) club Leicester City, while Allick previously donned the colours Dagenham & Redbridge FC. Cox on the other hand, plays for Boreham Wood FC. All the overseas players are expected on local shores by Friday May 29th.
On the local side, Vurlon Mills (Slingerz FC ) will lead the contingent which also include Jamaal Smith (Alpha United), Chris Camacho (Alpha United), Sheldon Holder (Alpha United), Kanata Manning (Alpha United), Derrick Carter (Western Tigers), Sheldon Holder (Alpha United), Eon Alleyne (Guyana Defence Force), King Solomon Austin (Slingerz FC), Colin Nelson (Slingerz FC), Joshua Brown (Slingerz FC), Dwayne Jacobs (Slingerz FC) and Clive Nobrega (Slingerz FC