Dagenham amp Redbridge’s Elliot Bonds has received his first call to the Guyana Men’s National Squad as Neil Danns, Colin Nelson, and Marcel Barrington return for the CONCACAF Nations League qualifier with French Guiana in Cayenne on November 20, 2018.
West Ham United’s Arthur Masuaku (left) and Dagenham amp Redbridge’s Elliot Bonds during a friendly match at Chigwell Construction Stadium, England
Head Coach Michael Johnson has named a 21-man squad, bringing together players based at clubs in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, England, the United States, Finland, and Portugal.
The squad commences its encampment for the fixture today in Suriname.
“This is a crucial match for the Golden Jaguars in our bid to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in Guyana’s footballing history. We are taking a strong, balanced and talented squad with a great blend of local players and those plying their trade overseas,” said Head Coach Johnson.
“We are all 110 per cent focused on making Guyanese fans proud in Cayenne next week.”
Neil Danns
Bonds, an 18-year-old midfielder, plays in England’s National League, the fifth tier of English football.
The squad includes US-based striker Emery Welshman, whose FC Cincinatti team will play Major League Soccer in 2019. Danns, Barrington and Nelson are also returning after missing out on the CONCACAF Nations League qualifier against Barbados in September.
Guyana currently lie 11th in the CONCACAF Nations League qualification table, with four points from two games.
French Guiana are in 16th place. The top 10 will qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while the top six will qualify for CONCACAF Nations League A alongside the United States, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras.
Teams placed 7th to 22nd will compete in CONCACAF Nations League B.
Guyana’s final qualification match will be played against Belize at Leonora Stadium on March 23, 2019.
The squad reads: Kai McKenzie-Lyle, Akel Clarke, Terrence Vancooten, Sam Cox, Kevin Layne, Kevin Dundas, Jake Newton, Walter Moore, Colin Nelson, Ronayne Marsh-Brown, Neil Danns, Elliot Bonds, Brandon Beresford, Anthony Benfield, Daniel Wilson, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Emery Welshman, Marcel Barrington, Trayon Bobb, Kadell Daniel, Sheldon Holder, Jermaine Cumberbatch, Curtez Kellman, Kelsey Benjamin, and Dellon Landerman.
