Slingerz to face SWA Sharks in CFU Club Shield opener

Guyana’s Slingerz FC will open its 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Shield campaign against Turks and Caicos Islands champions SWA Sharks FC following Friday’s official draw conducted by the CFU.
The tournament, which runs from July 23 to August 2 in Trinidad and Tobago, will feature 22 clubs from across the Caribbean competing for the title and two qualification spots in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.
Slingerz secured Guyana’s place in the competition after completing the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League season unbeaten. The club’s dominant domestic campaign earned it a return to regional football and an opportunity to challenge for a place among the Caribbean’s top clubs.
The Guyanese side, coached by veteran tactician Jamaal Shabazz, will face SWA Sharks FC in the opening round of the knockout competition. A victory would see Slingerz advance to the Round of 16, where Trinidad and Tobago’s Prisons Service FC awaits.

Under the tournament format, the 12 lowest-ranked clubs were drawn into the first round, while the five representatives from the Caribbean’s professional leagues and the three highest-ranked amateur clubs received automatic byes to the round of 16.
The CFU Club Shield serves as a pathway to higher levels of regional competition. Both finalists will qualify for the 10-team Concacaf Caribbean Cup, with further success offering a route to the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Slingerz President Javed Ali said the club was satisfied with the draw and is focused on preparing thoroughly for the challenge ahead.
He disclosed that plans are in place for an overseas pre-tournament training camp as the club seeks to ensure its players are fully prepared for the demands of regional competition.
Ali said the club’s objective is not only to participate but also to advance deep into the tournament and contend for a place in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup. He noted that Guyanese clubs have previously enjoyed success on the regional stage and said Slingerz hopes to follow in the footsteps of teams such as Alpha United.
Established in 2018, the CFU Club Shield was created to support the development of professional football across the Caribbean. The competition is contested by champion amateur and semi-professional clubs from member associations, with the finalists earning promotion to the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.