With the unenviable task of guiding Guyana to a maiden FIFA World Cup squarely on the shoulders of Head-Coach Jamal Shabazz, history will be against the Guyanese when they square off today with St. Vincent and the Grenadines in their first leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Opening Qualifier.
Shabazz, who was at the helm of the national setup on two previous occasions, created history when he oversaw the local unit’s record-setting FIFA World Cup 2014 campaign in his previous stint.
The local side, under the stewardship of the Trinidadian, qualified for the CONCACAF semi-finals of World Cup reaching that milestone for the first time in their history. However, the historical record will be against the Guyanese when they take the pitch at the Arnos Vale Stadium from 15:30hrs for what would be the seventh matchup between the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) rivals.
Currently ranked 112th by FIFA, Vincy Heat as there are often dubbed have secured four wins against Guyanese, with the most recent win coming on October 21, 2012 via a 2-1 result. Prior to that win, Vincy Heat also defeated Guyana 1-0 on February 19, 2012.
One time participant in the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Vincy Heat will enter the match full of confidence and also as the favourites, having clinched a 3-2 win over Grenada, a 2-1 victory against St. Lucia and a 1-0 victory over Dominica en route to their inaugural 2015 Windward Island championship recently.
Further analysis of the numbers illustrate that St. Vincent and the Grenadines have also outscored the Guyanese, netting 10 goals to date while conceding seven overall, one of which came in their last two meetings.
Guyana, who are currently positioned 46 places behind on the FIFA rankings list, last tasted victory against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on November 6, 2010 winning 2-0. Prior to that win, Guyana secured their only other victory against Vincy Heat on January 13, 2008 by a 1-0 margin with the only drawn encounter between the two sides to date having occurred days later on January 27th via 2-2 route. An examination of their 2015 competitive record highlights the fact that the Golden Jaguars have secured two wins, one draw and a loss. A 2-2 away draw with Barbados began the qualification process while 2-0 home wins versus Grenada and St. Lucia followed.
More recently, the Golden Jaguars own a record of two wins, one draw and a loss since the third coming of the Trinidad and Tobago native Shabazz.
A 2-2 away draw with Barbados transpired in February while 2-0 home wins against Grenada and St. Lucia occurred during the month of March this year.
Guyana would suffer their only loss to date albeit with a locally based side against Suriname, going down 1-0 in their most recent engagement.
With CONCACAF opting to make the first three rounds of the event elimination matchups and the fourth and final round a group affair, the Golden Jaguars must secure a positive away result with the return leg four days later at the National Stadium in Providence.
From a personnel perspective, Guyana will have the services of the Goalkeepers Akel Clarke (Central FC) and Derrick Carter (Western Tigers), Defenders Colin Nelson (Slingerz FC), Dwayne Jacobs (Slingerz FC), Adrian Butters (Toronto FC) and Jamal Smith (Alpha United) Midfielders Ricky Shakes (Boreham Wood FC), Walter Moore (FF Jaro), Trayon Bobb (Caledonia AIA), Chris Nurse (Carolina Railhawks),Brandon Beresford (Canada), Kanata Manning (Alpha United), Vurlon Mills (Slingerz FC) and Eon Alleyne (Guyana Defence Force), Forwards Emery Welshman (Real Monarchs), Daniel Wilson (Alpha United) and Sheldon Holder (Alpha United).
In terms of their management staff, Wayne Dover will act in his familiar role as Assistant Coach while Andrew Hazel, Trevor Burnett and Anson Ambrose will serve in the capacities of Goalkeeper Coach, Equipment Manager and Trainer respectively.
Mark Xavier and Faizal Khan will occupy the respective Team Manager positions whole Duane Saunders and Beverly Nelson will serve the Physiotherapists.
