Former Golden Jaguars captain Christopher Nurse has praised the decision of the Guyana Football Federation to host their World Cup Qualifier in the Dominican Republic.
According to Nurse, it provides the avenue for the selection of the best available players following travel restrictions to Guyana.
According to the former defensive midfielder in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport, “I believe in the current [COVID-19] climate it is the best decision, with so much at stake it is imperative that teams are afforded the opportunity to field their best players. Given the restrictions placed on travel and many overseas-based players not being permitted to travel into Guyana from the UK, the switch allows [and] provides a resolution for all teams involved to have the freedom to select the best available players.”
Guyana Football Federation (GFF) boss Wayne Forde, confirmed that the Golden Jaguars opening two fixtures in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers will be held in the Dominican Republic (DR) due to logistical reasons. Guyana is se to open their group-F campaign against the Soca Warriors on March 25th before locking horns with the Bahamians five days later. The official squad announcement is scheduled for March 17th, the day the team departs from the Spanish speaking nation.
Nurse explained that the decision to host the games in the Dominican Republic benefits all parties involved, adding that the lack of spectators at the venue provides no advantage to any team during the encounters given the current climate.
He explained, “It benefits all parties. Irrespective of the location fans are still not being permitted into stadiums as will be the case in the Dominican Republic, so the advantage of losing the 12th man, the fans, will not be relevant given this situation.”
According to Nurse, the staging of the matches in the Dominican Republic, provides a momentary solution for football to be contested, adding that it can provide the catalyst for the sport’s local re-emergence.
“I think we can be grateful there is a solution that will allow football to play and hopefully to reignite the passion and success for football in Guyana’’, he said.
Guyana will travel to St. Kitts and Nevis for Friday June 4th for their third match, before ending their group round at home on Tuesday June 8th against Puerto Rico. Only the group winner will progress to the second stage of the qualifiers.
