“Anything can happen in Caribbean Football”, says Cox

— as Golden Jags battle T&T tonight

By Jemima Holmes

Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Or cometh the hour, cometh the team. Whichever one shows up tonight (Thursday), Guyana’s Golden Jaguars would need a sufficiently stellar performance from the man or the team to put a halt to the Soca Warriors.

The occasion will be the opening account in the CONCACAF World Cup 2022 Qualifiers tournament for both Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, and will be played at the San Cristobal Panamerican Stadium in the Dominican Republic.
Though the Twin-Island Republic will be tough opponents, as attested by previous matches, the Guyanese camp is hyped up about their prospects in tonight’s crucial 90 minutes.

Beginning at 7pm this evening, Guyana will look to begin their quest to FIFA World Cup 2022 on a high note, but the Trinidad and Tobago National Football Team are not to be downplayed or cast out, even in the midst of whatever internal troubles their National Association has faced over the past year.
The last time both sides met was at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2019, when the game was drawn one all, leaving much to be redeemed on both sides of the field.
Golden Jags Head Coach Marcio Maximo has since expressed believe that much has changed and those factors could work in Guyana’s favour.
“Games are different. It’s different because the last game against Trinidad was two years ago. Many things (have) changed in two years ago: their squad, our squad. We renewed our team; our team now is faster in transition, more competitive, I think. But Trinidad also changed, they’re also good team,” Maximo explained.
“Always Trinidad have good team, want to be different this time. But always, Guyana is always competitive, and we want to be different this time as well,” the Head Coach declared.
Team captain Sam Cox has posited that the Guyanese outfit is well acquainted with their Trinidadian opposition by now, and he predicts a highly competitive encounter.
“We know what they bring to the table. We know that the Trinidad team is always physical. Of course, we know the rivalry which comes between ourselves and Trini. It’s going to be a highly competitive game. Primarily we’re focusing on what we’re going to do, how we’re going to get the advantage technically, tactically, psychologically and mentally,”
The Golden Jags captain continued, “I think we’ve done quite a bit on the board and in video analysis of their game; but, you know, our strengths are going to be our speed, our tactical understanding.”
When probed about the importance of a win against the Twin Island Republic, a calm and collected Cox expressed that it isn’t yet a ‘make or break’ situation.
The captain opined, “You look at the composition of the boys in our group and you know how tough a challenge Trinidad will be, and that’s taking away nothing from the other tough games that’s coming up as well. Trinidad and Tobago are our priority at the moment, but I don’t think it’s make-or-break. As you know, in Caribbean football, anything can happen.”
On the other hand, Goalkeeper Akel Clarke, who last faced off with the Soca Warriors in the Gold Cup, informed that while Trinidad’s internal trouble may hinder their performance, Guyana will not be taking them lightly.
“I think now it’s that both of us weren’t playing any football, you know because of COVID-19 and stuff. Basically, it’s all the work we’ve been putting in, and in Trinidad they have lots of ups and downs, so I think that’s going to be a problem,” Clarke initially stated. He added, “We’re not looking at what’s going on. We’re still putting in our work and going hard at them.”
Following their clash with Trinidad, Guyana will lock horns with the Bahamas on Tuesday March 30, at 3pm. A win in both games would put the Golden Jaguars in a perfect position, as they would need to win as many games as possible, since only one team would advance out of the Group.
The Golden Jags will play their final two matches on June 4th and 8th against St Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico respectively.