– to form preparation for CONCACAF Qualifiers
In an effort to better prepare their men’s and women’s U-17 programmes for the impending CONCACAF qualifiers in 2025, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will compete in an international series against Suriname in November.
This was disclosed by a release from the entity. According to the correspondence, the two programmes will feature in several matches against their Surinamese counterparts as part of a bilateral agreement that was inked in 2023. A return series will also occur in December.
The Golden Jaguars have been selected in Group B in the CONCACAF Men’s U-17 Qualifiers, which is slated to occur from February 7th-16th across several territories.
Guyana will compete against hosts Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, and Sint Maarten. Costa Rica will also host Group F.
Guyana will open their campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on February 7th, before opposing Saint Martin on the 11th. They will then match skills with Costa Rica two days later before ending their campaign against the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on the 16th.
In the previous edition, which was staged in 2022, Guyana ended with a record of three wins [4-0 The Bahamas, 3-1 Saint Martin, 3-2 Bermuda], one loss [2-4 Bonaire], and a draw [1-1 British Virgin Islands] to finish in third place.
Meanwhile, the Lady Jaguars have been drawn in group C in round one of the 2025 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Qualifiers, which will occur from January 27th – 31st.
Group C, which will be hosted in the Dominican Republic, also contains Panama, Cuba, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Guyana will open their campaign on Monday, January 27th, against Cuba before battling Panama two days later. They will end their group campaign against Turks & Caicos on January 31st.
In the 2022 edition, Guyana qualified for the elimination round after finishing with a record of two wins and a loss in Group C. Guyana defeated Anguilla 1-0 and Turks and Caicos 6-0 but lost to group winner Honduras 0-6. They then lost 0-15 to eventual runner-up Mexico in the round of 16. The team did not compete in the previous edition owing to financial constraints.
GFF President Wayne Forde said, “We have commenced our preparation early, and these matches allow us to measure the progress we are making. Youth teams are the future of Guyana’s football, and their dedication to the rigorous preparation process reflects their desire to perform well on the international stage.”
He further stated, “These upcoming games offer an invaluable platform for these youngsters to gain international experience and grow, both as athletes and ambassadors of Guyana. We are confident that their dedication will make our nation proud.”
“These upcoming competitions offer an invaluable platform for our young players to gain experience and grow, both as athletes and ambassadors of Guyana. We are confident that their dedication will make our nation proud.”
Presently, both programmes have commenced training, with sessions staged three to four times per week.
Meanwhile, Technical Director Bryan Joseph said, “Our national youth coaches and technical staff are dedicating an average of four days a week to working with the players. Our primary focus is to cultivate the best environment for them, with a strong emphasis on embedding our playing philosophy.”
He further said, “In the coming days, we will welcome players from the hinterland regions who were previously scouted, ensuring they receive the attention and support they deserve. These thoughtful early steps are crucial as we prepare for the upcoming friendlies against Suriname and work towards our 2025 international fixtures.”
