Junior Jags have high expectations for U20 qualifiers

In anticipation of the CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 qualifiers, Guyana’s Under-20 Men’s team have been avidly preparing for their first tournament since the coronavirus pandemic.
As they shared their experiences, members of the team have detailed their expectations, adapting to conditions, and juggling school work, which have come right along with their rigorous training.
Arguably the most experienced player, Golden Jaguars international forward Omari Glasgow has said he expects the team to do well, while sharing how his international experience has helped.
“Well, I feel very confident and motivated, because the last time we played we didn’t do (as) good as we expected. But I feel confident with this group going into the tournament, and I feel we’ll do great,” Glasgow said about his expectations for the team.
Glasgow, who scored his first international goal at 17 years old earlier this year, was quizzed about being a role model to his peers.
He answered, “I’m seeing that, yes. Most of the players come to me for advice, and they want me to talk to them on the field and stuff. I give them the advice and motivate them, ‘cause I want them to play as good as me and do better than me, same way.”
On experience gained from the senior team that he can use at the U20 level, the teenager shared, “First of all composure, and giving the players the confidence and motivate them to play at the level that we would play as the senior national team. I just want to motivate them so that we could go out there and do good.”
Meanwhile, Lethem’s Ofancy Winter has had to balance football and CSEC examinations, while adjusting to a better football pitch at the Providence Training Centre.
“Well, yeah, it’s been difficult balancing sport with school work, education; but, as a young kid coming from Region 9, we don’t have the things back home like Wi-Fi to study. Going to the ground for early morning sessions for football, and late-night studying… Yeah, it was a bit difficult,” Ofancy explained.

Speaking about adjusting to the synthetic pitch at Providence, Ofancy said, “It took me a good while (to adjust). I’ve been here four weeks (and) one month now, so it took me a good while to adjust to this pitch. It has improved my game a lot; taking the ball, passing balls, I improve a lot.”
Like Ofancy Winter, Alexander Davidson hails from Lethem. He also has had to balance schoolwork and travel.
“It ain’t really been complicated, because school hasn’t been open, but (I had) night classes and school work,” Davidson said about his schooling. On travelling, he added, “Well, from Linden to Lethem, (the) road, it hasn’t been that good, so it affects the legs.”
The 16-year-old has high hopes for the team, in which he feels much familiarity since meeting his fellow players in previous camps.
“I think I can bring a lot to this team, and help it, develop it and make it stronger, and hopefully win,” Davidson said. “I feel good, because I know some of them from Under-15 and Under-14 camp.”
Left winger Kenan Harper is one of the successful candidates coming out of the GFF Talent I.D Programme in Florida last month. The biggest challenge for him has been adjusting to the tropical weather.
“It’s been difficult, but I’m getting used to it. I’m fine. I’m confident I can make it through,” the foreign-based player shared. “I expect to be playing at my top performance, and I expect to be in the starting X1.
“Pace, good control; good finisher too!” he added on the topic of what he can contribute to the team.
The U20 Qualifiers are set for November 5-14 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Guyana is in Group D, alongside Nicaragua, Cayman Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands.