Stating that the health of players is of paramount importance during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, former Golden Jaguars international Christopher Nurse, has commended the decision of regional confederation CONCACAF to reschedule the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers to March 2021.
He made the statement during an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport. According to Nurse, 36, the decision to shelve the games until next year is the correct decision by regional confederation as nations such as Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago should not be competing internationally following dormancy in local football.
He elaborated, “The decision is the right thing to do. It would not make sense for Guyana or Trinidad to be competing at international level when no training or local or competitions in those territories are taking place. Of course, the responsibility of CONCACAF is to organise the competitions and to try to facilitate and plan how things can operate amidst the pandemic.”
CONCACAF following discussions with world governing body FIFA, has opted to reschedule the World Cup Qualifiers until March 2021.
This was disclosed in a release from the entity on Tuesday. The correspondence stated that the decision which was mutually agreed upon by the two entities, was taken due to the increasing Covid-19 health crisis within the region.
The release further stated that the ongoing pandemic poses a formidable challenge in the pursuit of resuming competitive football in the future as travel restrictions and quarantine requirements are a direct result of the ongoing health situation, which inhibits the recommencement of international play.
A new timetable for the resumption of international play is expected to be created and finalized shortly by the two organizations.
According to Nurse, who donned the armband for the Golden Jaguars from the period of 2011-2017, safety should always be the priority and that the travel restrictions of the respective countries hinder the prospect of staging matches.
He added, “But safety is always the first concern and with varying country and state restrictions the practicality and viability of international travel for fixtures so soon proved too challenging.”
The Current Director of Coaching at the ‘Love the Ball Florida Soccer Academy’ further opined that there is a silver lining in each outcome and that the event will eventually commence despite the current challenges.
He noted, “In every situation there is a positive and we must search for those gems that allows us to keep moving forward. Guyana are still in the competition; local players can remain optimistic the tournament will not pass them by through COVID-19 restrictions. We have health and life.”
Guyana was drawn in group-F in the first stage of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers. The Golden Jaguars were placed with traditional rivals Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas.
They were slated to commence their path to Qatar on October 8th away to Trinidad and Tobago. Slated to follow was a home fixture against The Bahamas on the 13th. Meanwhile, the Golden Jaguars were pegged to compete in November away to St. Kitts and Nevis on the 13th before concluding against Puerto Rico on home soil four days later.
Guyana’s best showing in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers occurred in the 2014 edition, as they romped to the third stage of qualifying. This is the penultimate section of the confederation’s qualification process.
Upon the conclusion of the first round, the second stage will consist of the respective group winners facing off in a home and away series.
The eventual victors will advance to the final round which will consist of eight teams. Following the conclusion of the final round, the top three teams will qualify to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The fourth placed finisher will contest the Confederation Playoff.
