Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 18, 2015 Sports
By Franklin Wilson
Following the Official Draw for the CONCACAF Qualifiers for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in Miami on Thursday last which saw Guyana drawing St.
Vincent & the Grenadines in their first game, second round play, Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Normalisation Committee (NC) Chairman, Clinton Urling believes that the Golden Jaguars will better their previous World Cup showing.
Last time around, Guyana made it to the CONCACAF semi finals (third round) the furthest they have ever gone.
Urling, who along with Technical Director Claude Bolton were Guyana’s representatives at the draw, noted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines will not be easy opponents for the Guyanese but has confidence in the Jaguars doing well. He offered this comment on the draw.
”The draw puts things into perspective and remind all member associations of FIFA and CONCACAF that the time is near and the necessary ground work and due diligence must start now if they intent to see their respective national teams succeed and qualify for the seminal football tournament, that is the FIFA World Cup.”
Despite not being drawn in the first round of qualifying, the Golden Jaguars will have to do their homework in order to get past the usually tough ‘Vincy Heat’ side that have always provided stiff competition for the ‘Golden Jaguars’.
The last time the two sides met, February 2012, Vincy Heat prevailed by the lone goal of that encounter. In previous encounters, Guyana won 2-0 in November 2010; they battled to a 2-2 stalemate on January 28, 2008, on January 13 Guyana won 1-0 while in the 2007 Caribbean Cup, SVG won 2-0. So in five meetings the spoils are even at two apiece with one draw.
”We don’t expect an easy challenge from St. Vincent and will carefully devise our football strategies over the next few months to ensure that the senior men’s national team has the support and resources necessary to succeed not only for our round two matches with St. Vincent but for the entire tournament when we advance in rounds.”
But even before the CONCACAF draw, the GFF NC had contracted a new Technical Director in Bolton and had finalized a friendly international with Barbados which is set for February 1, next in Barbados.
This game, Urling believes presents the ideal opportunity for the players to showcase their abilities while it will also be used as a yardstick to assess where Guyana’s football is at the moment.
”It will also show us which areas need improvement before we commence our World Cup campaign. Moreover, the TD and coaching staff will work out a plan of activities and schedule to ensure our domestic players have structured and sufficient playing time now and June.”
Urling indicated that there is a high possibility of a Super or Premier League that would provide high level exposure for players while providing the necessary leg hours for the inform and talented players.
It was also pointed out that the first FIFA windows for playing friendly internationals will be in March when the first round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 world cup would also commence.
Urling noted that the GFF would be making moves to utilize these dates to expose the Golden Jaguars as well as assess the international based players.
”The GFF is looking forward to the world cup qualifying campaign and we are pretty confident that the Golden Jaguars will roar with a deafening pitch and go furthest into qualifying than we ever have in the past and culminate with a trip to Russia in 2018.”
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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