National U17 Girls “locked in” – Head Coach

Guyana’s National under-17 girls’ football team will embark on the first round of the CONCACAF U17 Qualifiers this Sunday, and according to Head Coach Delon Williams, the confident bunch is ready and rearing to compete.
The 21-member squad had the opportunity to come up against the GFF Women’s Division One League runners-up, Guyana Police Force (GPF) Women, in a practice match on Wednesday evening, giving the side some much-needed game minutes ahead of their campaign.

Williams, in an interview with this publication, later spoke on the importance of that match and their training sessions thus far.
The Head Coach divulged, “Training has been going well so far; we’re actually on par with training. We’re loving the response from the coaching staff that we have here for the girls; they’re very receptive in terms of what we’re trying to get them to execute.”
“And we see a bit of it in the actual training game here this evening [Wednesday], what we’re working on. The girls are pretty okay and comfortable; I think we’re all locked in to the tournament ahead of us, and the girls are set and ready,” Williams added.
Focusing on the team’s mindset, the head coach revealed that his troops are focused on the task ahead.
Williams opined, “I think they’re prepared. The coaching staff has done an excellent job so far in that. Their mindset is just focused and ready; not too overconfident, not too nervous, but of course, they’re a little nervous, but not too nervous. I think they’re ready and awaiting the playing days.”
Discussing the composition of his team, Williams highlighted the players who enjoyed a successful run in the National U20 team last year and the value they add to the squad.

“We have a set of girls, at least four girls, back from the U20, which they just qualified for the second round of, and they brought with them a wealth of experience. We’re using that along with the other girls so that we can make inroads into the tournament ahead of us. So, the girls we’re having here, they’re all looking up to these girls as the big sisters of the team and the leaders of the team. So, we’re using that, and go ahead,” the head coach explained.
The CONCACAF U17 Qualifiers will run from January 24 to February 2, with Guyana beginning their campaign on Sunday, January 25, against Jamaica.
The Junior Lady Jags are in Group D of the first round of the qualifiers, along with Honduras and Jamaica. St Vincent and the Grenadines and Aruba host.

The National U17 girls’ team reads:
Goalkeepers – Jasmine Solomon-Ross, Alexis Mars, and Sara Ernest
Defenders – Aliyah John, Ella Yhip, Kuleni Springer, Lily Biffin, Avril Pasvolsky, Laila Ross, Laila So, and Caraleena Elliston
Midfielders – Kimora Edwards, Sydney Glean, Arianna Chin, Carissa Lombardi, Ellie Biffin, and Ayah Stewart
Forwards – Alexaudria Chasles, Tanya De Vair, Anaya Joseph, and Eleanna Isaacs
The format of this year’s U17 Girls Qualifiers will see 29 teams competing in six groups for a chance to move on to Round Two. After round robin play, the six group winners, in addition to the two best second-placed teams, will advance to the final round.
There, they will meet CONCACAF’s top-ranked teams, namely, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States (who received byes to this round) for another bout of group play.