CONCACAF Nations League
Guyana’s national football team the Golden Jaguars are ready and rearing to have a taste of competition come next week, as they now have a newly outfitted team. Leading from the front is recently appointed Head Coach of the national team, Michael Johnson, who has announced the fresh-faced team that will come up against Barbados in the first encounter of the CONCACAF Nations League.
The 30-man squad, inclusive of seven standby players, draw their members from nations all around the world, including Portugal, Canada, England and Trinidad and Tobago. Most of the players, however, hail from the Land of Many Waters, Guyana. The squad is equipped with three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders, and six forwards. The players on standby are all Guyana-based, and include one goalkeeper, two defenders, two midfielders and two forwards.
Johnson, in an invited comment, said the squad is “strong and competitive.”
“We feel it’s a strong and competitive squad, with a variety of options as we look to embark on the Nations League campaign. We have a positive blend of Guyana and international-based players in the squad, but they all understand they have to earn the right to wear the badge,” Johnson explained.
Among the squad is the debutante Ronayne Marsh-Brown, an England-based solid left side defensive option, who played a season professionally for RKC Waalwijk in Holland. At that time, RKC Waalwijk were playing in the Dutch Eredivisie under former Tottenham Hotspurs coach Martin Jol.
Marsh-Brown is known for his commitment to the game. He is the older brother of England Forwards Keanu and Ky Marsh-Brown.
Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Ian Greenwood, gave a little insight into the purpose of the standby list, stating, “The recently-concluded preparatory Train and Play camp in Brazil enabled the technical staff to assess the players in the pool through a variety of exercises, including fitness. While it was a competitive process to shortlist the 23-man squad, it was felt that these players had enough of what is required to wear the badge at the highest level of football in Guyana, and therefore are being called to be available in the event of injury or any unforeseen circumstances.”
The Golden Jaguars’ international-based players and the technical squad are scheduled to arrive today, while the Barbadian team is scheduled to land on Tuesday.
The CONCACAF Nations League will kick off with the encounter between Guyana and Barbados at the Leonora Track and Field facility on Thursday, September 6.
Guyana has been grouped with Barbados, Turks and Caicos Islands, French Guiana and Belize, and will play host to Barbados and Belize in September 2018 and March 2019 respectively, while Turks and Caicos Islands and French Guiana will host Guyana in October and November 2018.
Early-bird tickets for Thursday’s event are available at the Guyana Football Federation Secretariat for one thousand dollars. Tickets will also be sold at the gate.
