Asks Charwayne Walker
The Golden Jaguars and Grenada Spice Boys will clash on June 17 in a Gold Cup Preliminary match at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The last time Guyana and Grenada squared off in an elimination series was in April of 1980.
On that occasion the two teams were competing in the 1982 World Cup qualifiers opening round.
Guyana, led by then Thomas United last back, Earl O’Neal, rallied from two goals down to defeat the Grenadians 5 goals to 2 at the world-famous, Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda.
The goal scorers for Guyana were Gordon ‘Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite, who scored from the penalty spot, Clyde `Oiler’ Watson, who netted a double, Clyde `Wooly’ Forde and Ashton ‘’Chucker’’ Taylor.
The victorious Guyana team that won the opening World Cup fixture were as follows: Earl O’Neal, captain, Thomas United, Clive ` Breezer’ Nedd, (deceased) Santos, Vibert `Bartica’ DeFreitas, YMCA, Fitzherbert Pellew, Pele, Ashton `Chucker’ Taylor (deceased), Pele, Neil `Grizzly’ Humphrey (deceased), Cougars, Monty Mentore, YMCA, Bunny Anthony, YMCA, Neville `Zipper’ Johnson, YMCA, Denzil `Hunky Brains’ Thompson, Pele, Aubrey Hudson (deceased), YMCA, Gordon `Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite, Pele, Terrence Archer, Pele, Marlon De Souza, GDF, Ken O’Donoghue, YMCA, Leonard `Dentist’ Williams, Western United, Clive Perry, Pele, Clyde `Wooly’ Forde (deceased) Thomas United, Kenneth `Skip’ Price, Santos, Clyde `Oiler’ Watson, Pele, Charles Ashford, Thomas United, Trevor Gibbs, GFC, Calmeth Young, Bartica, Selwyn Hutson, Eagles United, George Greene (deceased) Coach, and Billy Braithwaite (deceased) Manager.
In the return fixture in St George’s, Guyana won by three goals to two. Clyde `Oiler’ Watson was the talk of the Eastern Caribbean after he mesmerized the Grenada’s defence scoring a memorable double, his second of the series.
The late Ashton `Chucker’ Taylor was the other Guyanese goal scorer.
The Guyana squad that travelled to Grenada for the return fixture is as follows: Earl O’ Neal, captain, Thomas United, Terrence Archer, Pele, Gordon `Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite, Pele, Ashton `Chucker’ Taylor, Pele, (deceased) Denzil `Hunky Brains’ Thomas, Pele, Clyde `Oiler’ Watson, Pele, Fitzherbert Pellew, Pele, Clive Perry, Pele, Vibert `Bartica’ De Freitas, YMCA, Bunny Anthony, YMCA, Neville `Zipper’ Johnson, YMCA, Leonard `Dentist’ Williams, Western United, Aubrey Hudson, (deceased) YMCA, Charles Ashford, Thomas United, Trevor Gibbs, GFC, Clive `Breezer’ Nedd (deceased) Clyde `Wooly’ Forde, (deceased), Thomas United, George Greene, (deceased) Coach, Billy Braithwaite (deceased) manager.