23 named in squad for Golden Jags’ Nations League campaign

A23-member squad has been named by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in anticipation of Guyana’s senior men’s national football team’s return to the pitch next week for their remaining two matches in the 20222023 CONCACAF Nations League against Bermuda and Monserrat respectively.

During a press briefing on Thursday morning at the GFF’s Campbellville head office, the 23-man Golden Jaguars squad was revealed, consisting of 11 locals and 12 internationally-based players.

As such, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz spoke on the composition of the team and the international versus local ratio.

“The squad will have more overseas-based players than locally-based players simply because, as opposed to the first time around when we played the matches some months ago last year, I was not as aware of the players as I’m aware now.

I’m satisfied that the bunch of players that we’re bringing in to join the squad will be much more cohesive than the last squad,” Shabazz related to media operatives.

However, when quizzed about the lack of friendlies and other preparation amenities, the Head Coach explained that the Golden Jags were making do with the resources they had.

The Head Coach expressed, “For me as a coach, the ideal situation, we would’ve liked to have two matches, but what we did was the next best thing. We examined the overseas-based players carefully and up to yesterday, we pushed and we created an environment in the training – and they can testify – of very, very competitive nature.”

“And I feel with that, was the best we could have done under the circumstances,” he concluded. Meanwhile, Omari Glasgow and Jeremy Garrett, who have been named in the squad, spoke of their preparations for the upcoming, must-win games.

Glasgow revealed, “The preparation was good with my club. We had pre-season, you know, working hard, we had a lot of running and stuff, a lot of friendlies too. But I was still in contact with Coach about my preparation, how I’ve been performing and the work I’ve been putting in.

“He also told me about the work these guys over here have been putting in over the last couple of weeks. So, I think the team is ready, mentally and physically, for the two matches we have coming up, because they’re very important and we just want to go out and win,” the forward added.

Garrett also shared about his preparation, which included a stint in the USA, “Before I left, the programme was going well, I think the coaches were tuned in and showing us what they wanted and the players really interacted and did what was necessary to keep ourselves intact and keep ourselves fit. Coming back from that, the programme is still going well.”

CONTINUES ON PAGE 22► scored an unbeaten 122 for Barbados in their first innings. In Barbados’s second innings, they were bowled out for 78, with Rahkeem Cornwall and Devon Thomas claiming five wickets each.

At stumps, Leewards were 13-0, needing 234 more runs to win. Play in these matches will recommence at 10:00h Eastern Caribbean time. (Brandon Corlette)

Scoreboard

Trinidad and Tobago 1st Innings

Jeremy Solozano b Paul 15

Keagan Simmons c

Sinclair b Paul 15

Darren Bravo c Nandu b Beaton 15

Jason Mohammed c

Bramble b Beaton 50

Jyd Goolie c Smith b Paul 22

Tion Webster c & b Permaul 0

Amir Jangoo c Sinclair b Permaul 18

Imran Khan b Permaul 2

Bryan Charles c

Bramble b Beaton 0

Uthman Muhammad not out 1

Justin Manick lbw b Beaton 0

Total

(10 wickets, 52.0) (22 extras) 160

FOW: 38/1 (17.3) Keagan

Simmons 51/2 (19.2) Jeremy Solozano 59/3 (20.6) Darren

Bravo 117/4 (33.1) Jyd Goolie

118/5 (36.4) Tion Webster

150/6 (46.3) Amir Jangoo

154/7 (48.4) Imran Khan 155/8

(49.4) Bryan Charles 160/9

(51.5) Jason Mohammed

160/10 (51.6) Justin Manick

Bowling Keemo Paul (13-37-3)

Nial Smith (9-1-39-0)

Ronsford Beaton (13-3-31-4)

Kevin Sinclair (3-2-6-0)

Veerasammy Permaul (14-5-36-3) Guyana