The Guyana Football Federation [GFF], has shortlisted a 20-member roster for Aruba and Jamaica fixtures in the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League campaign.
The Golden Jaguars will start their League-B campaign in the CONCACAF Nations League September 6th away to Aruba in Curacao. It will be the first of six matches for the 21st ranked Guyanese. Following their match-up with the 31st ranked Arubans, Guyana will host 6th ranked Jamaica on September 9th.
The squad features eight locally based players, the most in recent memory. According to a release from the GFF, the sizeable selection of the locally based players was done with the aim of fostering exposure and development on the international circuit.
The team, which is under Head-coach Brazilian Marcio Maximo reads Goalkeepers Alex Murray [locally based], Akel Clarke [locally born], Quillan Roberts [overseas based], Defenders Sam Cox [overseas based], Sherwin Skeete [locally based], Kevin Layne [locally based], Raphael Edwards [locally based], Matthew Briggs [overseas based], Liam Gordon [overseas based], Midfielders Neil Danns [overseas based], Clive Nobrega [locally based], Daniel Wilson [locally based], Delwin Fraser [locally based], Stephen Duke McKenna [overseas based], Ryan Hackett [locally based], Forwards Kelsey Benjamin [locally born], Keanu Marsh-Brown [overseas based], Pernell Schultz [locally based], Terell Ondaan [overseas based] and Sheldon Holder [locally born].
Maximo said preparations have been going well.
“Of course, I have been here just 10 days and while that time was not enough, I have been able to see the characteristics of the players to provide a good combination of Guyana and international-based players in the squad. Preparations have been going very well, the guys are very motivated. The guys have shown great interest and, of course, they understand the tactical elements. While we will set out to win the upcoming matches, there’s no guarantee in football. We, however, will go to the game with optimism that we can have a good result against both Aruba and Jamaica.”
Charles Pollard will serve as the Assistant Coach while Eon DeVieira, Denzil Hernandes and Quacy Paddy will act as the Goalkeeping Coach, Lead Physiotherapist and Physiotherapist respectively.
Similarly, Wilson Toledo, Faizal Khan, Rawle Adams and Trevor Burnett will serve as Head of Sports Science, Head of Recruitment, Team Operations Manager and Equipment Manager respectively. The Golden Jaguars second round of matches will take place in October, with Guyana travelling to the 22nd ranked Antigua and Barbuda unit on the 11th, before hosting the reverse fixture three days later.
The final round of matches will be held during the month of November. Guyana will host Aruba on the 15th, before traveling to Jamaica three days later.
Winner of the group will advance to the League-A section of the competition in the subsequent edition.
