The National Track and Field Centre, Leonora will provide the setting for what is expected to be a thrilling contest as Guyana commence their CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers against Barbados from 19:00hrs.
It will be the 19th meeting of the nations with both teams accruing a record of six wins each and seven draws.
Barbados, who are ranked 160th on the FIFA ladder, lead the scoring chart with 30 goals while the 182nd ranked Guyanese have recorded 24 goals during the same period.
The previous encounter occurred in 2015, with Guyana securing a 2-2 draw in the Land of the Flying Fish in an International Friendly.
Michael Johnson, Head-Coach of the Golden Jaguars during a pre-match press conference at the SleepIn Hotel & Casino yesterday said that the objective is to start the campaign on a positive note as the tournament serves as a pathway for the prestigious 2019 Gold Cup.
The English born Johnson, who represented Jamaica on the international circuit, declared that his side is focused for the task at hand.
“What you’ll see tonight is a team that’s confident, this team is a team that has a lot of attacking players that if you release the shackles off, then we could be a real threat. So I’m excited about what tomorrow (tonight) brings and also for the future.”
Johnson said they were not overlooking the opposition.
“I think we would be disrespectful if we overlooked teams and the competition, but what I could say is that we have a wonderful opportunity and if we embrace that and if we work hard, work smarter, then I really believe that with the group of players that we have, we will be competitive and we have a great opportunity to do something special.”
Guyana features in a group also consisting of Turks and Caicos Islands, French Guiana and Belize. They will also host Belize on March 2019, after travelling to Turks and Caicos Islands and French Guiana during October and November 2018 respectively.
The members of the foreign born contingent are Goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle [Barnet FC of England], Defenders Ronayne Marsh-Brown, Terence Vancooten [Stevenage FC of England], Sam Cox [Wealdstone FC of England], Jake Newton [Hamble Club FC of England], Jelani Smith [Sigma FC of Canada], Midfielders Neil Danns [Bury FC of England] and Brandon Beresford [1st Dezembro of Portugal].
Meanwhile, the locally born and overseas based players are Goal-keepers Jason Cromwell [Buxton United], Akel Clarke [Fruta Conquerors], Defenders Kevin Layne [NA United], Kevin Dundas [Den Amstel], Kester Jacobs [Den Amstel], Midfielders Delwin Fraser [GDF], Anthony Benfield [Fruta Conquerors], Daniel Wilson [Western Tigers], Vurlon Mills [Western Tigers], Forwards Andrew Murray [Caledonia AIA of Trinidad and Tobago], Dellon Lanferman [Den Amstel], Kelsey Benjamin [Western Tigers], Trayon Bobb [1st Dezembro of Portugal], Pernell Schultz [Western Tigers] and Sheldon Holder {Caledonia AIA of Trinidad and Tobago].
