Guyana’s Lady Jags, as the national female soccer team is called, will play their first international match in almost five years when they take on either Jamaica or Puerto Rico at the Leonora Track and Field Facility.
Guyanese last saw the Lady Jags in action against Cuba at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground a match they won 1 – 0.
According to a release from the GFF, the team is preparing for their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifiers in the Dominican Republic where they will oppose St Kitts and Nevis on August 21 and Cuba two days later in the Group Four fixtures.
Head Coach Mark Rodrigues and Technical Director Claude Bolton are in charge of the squad which consists primarily of players from the US and Canada collegiate systems some of whom recently participated in a camp in Canada. “The returning players showed a high level of maturity and it was very exciting to see that in training and during the game in Toronto.
“I was quite pleased to see that our U20 players (now matured) who were asked to join the squad were able to raise their level of play and come close to matching that of the original senior players,
”The players as a group, never stopped asking me what more can they do to help develop football in Guyana. Through that contact I always kept abreast of players’ achievements in the game,” said Rodrigues.
According to the release, the players will assemble in Guyana for a camp which runs from July 18 – 26.
“The focus of the camp will primarily be to get players to gel as a unit. The camp will primarily comprise of tactical and functional sessions, and with that some fitness will be addressed,” he added.
Rodrigues said they were excited to be playing in the Olympic Qualifiers.
“Of course we are excited to be playing in Olympic Qualifiers. Yet again, we just do not just want to participate, we intend to leave a lasting impression on field and continue to leave a lasting impression on women’s football in Guyana,” he declared.“There is no difference this time around as compared to 2010 – the goal is and remains the same. The Lady Jags, similar to the men, are a vehicle to bringing Guyanese together worldwide. This is what we have to use as a catalyst for the physical and social development of the youth in our country,” he added.
Bolton feels it is necessary to let the younger players become aware of the importance of the team.
“It is essential that we highlight the significance of the Lady Jags to our young players. They need to know that they too can have struggles, obstacles, and not reach glory in the eyes of others and still be proud for giving all that they have,” he said.
Speaking on team’s expectation, especially since the women’s team is Guyana’s most successful at all levels, Bolton said: “We have no illusions. We know that this group is not expected, nor have they been prepared, to compete at the highest levels. However, Coach Rodrigues and every single player have proudly and eagerly accepted the challenge. This effort can be the catalyst for making certain that we never face such a reality again.”
