In what will be the third ever meeting of the nations, the Golden Jaguars, Guyana’s flagship national programme, will open their CONCACAF Nations League League-B campaign today against Aruba in Curacao.
The Guyanese sport a perfect 2-0 record against the Arubans following 4-0 and 3-0 wins in 1991 and 1992 respectively.
However Guyana enter the clash winless in their previous five matches, with their last victory coming via a 2–1 result against Belize. Their record during the aforesaid five-game window consists of four losses and a draw.
During this period Guyana lost to Bermuda, Haiti, United States of America and Panama. The solitary draw occurred against Trinidad and Tobago.
Statistically, the 178th FIFA-ranked Golden Jaguars recorded four goals during this timeline while allowing an unwanted 13 goals.
Guyana’s team which is under the tutelage of recently appointed 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].
In terms of the management team, Charles Pollard will serve as the Assistant Coach, while Eon DeVeira, 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 host nation has a record of two losses, one win and a draw in their previous four fixtures.
The 189th FIFA-ranked outfit defeated highly rated Bermuda, before incurring defeats against Montserrat and St. Lucia. A scoreless draw against Guadeloupe completes the aforementioned period.
Analysis of the numbers reveal that Aruba’s strike force registered five goals, while their backline conceded six times.
The Aruba fixture will be the first of six matches for the Guyanese. Following their match-up with the Arubans, Guyana will host Jamaica on September 9th.
The Golden Jaguars second round of matches will occur in October, with Guyana travelling to Antigua and Barbuda to clash with its unit on the 11th, before hosting the reverse fixture three days later.
The final round of matches will then occur 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.
