Alpha United’s Delon Lanferman and Pele FC’s Jumane Somerset have been selected by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to represent the nation at the upcoming Caribbean Football Union (CFU)/Major League Soccer (MLS) Combine in Curacao.
“The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) named Alpha United’s Delon Lanferman and Jumane Somerset of Pele FC, as Guyana’s selection for the 2015 Major League Soccer (MLS) Combine in Curacao,” a press release from the Guyana Football federation yesterday stated.
“Set for December 17 – 20, the MLS Combine will feature players from within the confines of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), competing in front of professional scouts for an opportunity to earn an invitation to the annual Adidas MLS Player Combine in Florida on January 8 – 13, 2016.
The two players were selected by Jamaal Shabazz, Guyana’s senior national team head coach, following an assessment of the STAG Elite League (Genesis) and keeping with the 18 – 22 years-old MLS Combine rule.
Lanferman finished the League (Genesis) as the highest goal scorer (10), one more than Pele’s Gregory Richardson. He played a pivotal role in his club’s success this year, despite them finishing second in the League (Genesis) behind Slingerz Football Club.
The release stated that the 20-year-old Lanferman is yet to make his Senior National team debut although he has represented Guyana at the U-20 and U-23 levels.
Somerset, 22, is described as one of Guyana’s top defenders, but the player is also yet to make his Golden Jaguar debut.
The MLS Caribbean Combine is an annual showcase of Caribbean football talent organised jointly by MLS and the CFU in 2013, with the inaugural combine being held in January 2014.
The combine, the release stated, provides opportunities for Caribbean players to be observed by MLS scouts with the hopes of being invited to the MLS Combine, an invite-only showcase event held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida prior to the annual MLS SuperDraft”.
“The combine is part of an agreement between the two entities as they try to promote football development throughout the Caribbean region. Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson is the first and only Guyanese player to be signed by an MLS club following his 2009 deal with the Colorado Rapids” the document concluded.
