The Golden Jaguars U-16 boys’ team suffered their second consecutive loss in the UEFA Assist Friendly Tournament, losing 0-7 to Montenegro yesterday in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The Guyanese entered the contest on the back of a 1-9 defeat to the host nation. Guyana’s starting XI for the contest comprised Gerry Burnett, Shakeem Welcome, Kvist Paul, Jaden Harris, Seon Cato, Brandon Khedoo, Matrim Martin, Dexter Milo, Regan Lewis, and Troy Gibson. Guyana will conclude their campaign against Lithuania on Sunday.
Head-coach Vurlon Mills during a post-match comment had this to offer, “Coming into this game, we knew it wouldn’t have been an easy game for us. By watching Montenegro’s first game, we knew it wouldn’t have been an easy game for us. But our boys from the start of the game managed it well, we got the first two chances in the game, we just didn’t capitalise on them. Montenegro had a big hand ball when they scored the first goal, I don’t think the referee saw it but I think that broke the players a little. However we continued to stay in the game, I think this game we played much better on the ball, tried to settle it, tried to move it a bit more, tried to create chances but unfortunately we went down seven by simple mistakes.”
According to Mills, “I think we conceded some very soft goals that could have been avoided very easily, and that just comes from game time, having the experience, having the exposure to play and the game is the best teacher so I think these boys coming out and playing will improve game after game and this just have to be part of our preparation going into tournaments in the future because coming into this tournament we had no practice game and we already started on a loss there. Coming against these teams who played 11 games for the past year is difficult to compare against them. For our boys who have no experience I think they gave their all and they gave a good account of themselves and are improving game after game.”
He noted that the coaching staff expects a similar playing style and methodology from Lithuania, adding, “Lithuania is very technical, we are not expecting a different brand of football from them than Montenegro played today, so definitely we are trying to contain our scoreline, trying to play a little deeper, trying to play a little tighter, [and] getting the boys to understand that we have to play safe. Of course we are not going to kick the ball away because that is not development. We can’t kick the ball away and be on the ball less. When we are in possession of the ball, we still want to play our style of play but definitely when out of possession, we have to play tighter.”
