23 named in squad for Golden Jags’ Nations League campaign

A 23-member squad has been named by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in anticipation of Guyana’s senior men’s national football team’s return to the pitch next week for their remaining two matches in the 2022-2023 CONCACAF Nations League against Bermuda and Monserrat respectively.
During a press briefing on Thursday morning at the GFF’s Campbellville head office, the 23-man Golden Jaguars squad was revealed, consisting of 11 locals and 12 internationally-based players.

As such, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz spoke on the composition of the team and the international versus local ratio.
“The squad will have more overseas-based players than locally-based players simply because, as opposed to the first time around when we played the matches some months ago last year, I was not as aware of the players as I’m aware now. I’m satisfied that the bunch of players that we’re bringing in to join the squad will be much more cohesive than the last squad,” Shabazz related to media operatives.
However, when quizzed about the lack of friendlies and other preparation amenities, the Head Coach explained that the Golden Jags were making do with the resources they had.
The Head Coach expressed, “For me as a coach, the ideal situation, we would’ve liked to have two matches, but what we did was the next best thing. We examined the overseas-based players carefully and up to yesterday, we pushed and we created an environment in the training – and they can testify – of very, very competitive nature.”
“And I feel with that, was the best we could have done under the circumstances,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Omari Glasgow and Jeremy Garrett, who have been named in the squad, spoke of their preparations for the upcoming, must-win games.
Glasgow revealed, “The preparation was good with my club. We had pre-season, you know, working hard, we had a lot of running and stuff, a lot of friendlies too. But I was still in contact with Coach about my preparation, how I’ve been performing and the work I’ve been putting in.
“He also told me about the work these guys over here have been putting in over the last couple of weeks. So, I think the team is ready, mentally and physically, for the two matches we have coming up, because they’re very important and we just want to go out and win,” the forward added.
Garrett also shared about his preparation, which included a stint in the USA, “Before I left, the programme was going well, I think the coaches were tuned in and showing us what they wanted and the players really interacted and did what was necessary to keep ourselves intact and keep ourselves fit. Coming back from that, the programme is still going well.”

The team will play their first game against home team Bermuda on March 25, after which they will head to Barbados to face Monserrat on March 28, in what should have been Guyana’s home game.

The Golden Jaguars squad reads:
Goalkeepers
1. Quillan Roberts (Western Suburbs FC, New Zealand)
2. Akel Clarke (Slingerz FC, Guyana)
3. Kai Mckenzie-Lyle (Welling United FC, UK)

Defenders
4. Colin Nelson (GDF, Guyana)
5. Jeremy Garrett (Slingerz FC, Guyana)
6. Jaylen Jones (Cray Wanderers FC, UK)
7. Bayli Spencer Adams (Leicester City FC, UK)
8. Marcus Wilson (Caledonia AIA, Trinidad)
9. Liam Gordon (Walsall FC, UK)
10. Kadel Daniel (Folkestone Invicta FC, UK)
11. Samuel Cox (Welling United FC, UK)
12. Johnny Grant (York United, Canada)

Midfielders
13. Curtez Kelman (Police SC, Guyana)
14. Daniel Wilson (Western Tigers, Guyana)
15. Nathan Moriah Welch (Newport County FC, UK)
16. Elliot Bonds (Cheltenham FC, UK)
17. Leo Lovell (Slingerz FC, Guyana)

Forwards
18. Emery Welshman (Forge FC, Canada)
19. Omari Glasgow (Chicago Fire, USA)
20. Pernel Schultz (Police SC, Guyana )
21. Trayon Bobb (Western Tigers, Guyana)
22. Kelsey Benjamin (GDF, Guyana)
23. Tre Medford (Boston United FC, UK)