Guyana’s senior female football team will oppose Bermuda this evening at the Leonora Stadium, West Coast Demerara and it promises to be tactical warfare between the two in the early quest for World Cup berths, as they compete in Group E of the Women’s World Cup CONCACAF Caribbean Qualifying tournament.
At a press briefing on the eve of the match, Head Coach, Dr Ivan Joseph conveyed his team’s greatest asset will be their defence since he is a firm believer that a strong defence can win matches.
“You can score six goals, you can score eight goals but you can still lose the game. The only way to guarantee yourself a point is to allow none,” Dr Joseph vehemently stated.
Team Guyana! Assistant Coach Akilah Castello; goal keeper Natalie Nedd; Head coach, Dr Ivan Joseph; and Guyana Football Federation PRO, Debra Francis at the press briefing on Tuesday at the Ramada Princess Hotel
The new head coach announced that though results are necessary, they are not everything, as he seeks to build a programme that develops other players so they can sustain success. Dr Joseph further contended it is an “open tournament”, since other teams are going through similar rebuilding processes. In the past, the Lady Jags have qualified for two major CONCACAF events.
On the other hand, Bermuda has been touted as Guyana’s biggest threat and are known for having a powerful Under-17 team which will be mixed with their seniors who play college football in the United States.
According to their head coach, Naquita Robinson, Bermuda will be playing the Jags for the first time based only on knowledge they acquired from watching videos.
Bermuda! Assistant Coach Vance Brown, Head coach Naquita Robinson and Goalkeeper Coach Dashun Cooper
Commenting on how she plans to unlock the touted “tight defence by Guyana”, she stated “they need goals too, at some point we will draw them out so we are able to attack the goal. I have complete faith we will able to unlock that defence”.
Should Guyana end at the top of their group, the team would join the other first place winners in a battle to see which three teams will travel to the USA. That competition will run from August 25 to September 2.
Those top three teams will travel to Edinburgh and to Frisco in Texas to participate in the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championships which will qualify three teams for the FIFA 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.
From 17:00h, Barbados will play Suriname while from 19:30h, Guyana will play Bermuda. Guyana will face Suriname on May 25, and Barbados on May 27.
According to the coach, injuries have caused the Lady Jags to not name their final squad; however, their shortlisted squad consists of: Taylor White (G); Natalie Nedd (G); Aneesa O’Brien (G); Sasha James; Odessa Romeo; Nikita Persaud; Sydney Cummings; Brianne DeSouza; Alicia Zaban; Allison Heydron; Collette Hope; Brittany Persaud; Miriam El-Masri; Tiandi Smith; Jade Vyphuis; Ghilene Joseph; Lakeisha Pearson; Horicia Adams; Brianna Desa; Hannah Baptiste; Calaigh Copland; Ashlee Savona; Annalisa Vincent; Cameo Hazelwood; Jalade Trim; and Otesha Charles.
Bermuda Squad: Teyah Lindo, Taznae Fubler, Chelsea Harvey, Micah Pond, Symira Lowe Darrell, Akeyla Furbert, Khyla Brangman, Precious Smith, Ember Butterfield, Eva Frazzoni, Deshae Darrell, Zakiya Durham, Victoria Davis, Jade Stewart, Trinae Edwards, Rayni Maybury, Jadae Steede Hill, Keunna Dill, K’shaela Burch Waldron and Marley Christian.
