Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 25, 2015 Sports
By Santokie Nagulendran
Battles between Barbados and Guyana usually evoke images of Cricket in the Caribbean, yet that has all changed this month as high levels of
excitement and anticipation are building with the Guyana National football team set to play Barbados, the first time the ‘real’ Golden Jaguars will have played since 2012. However, opponents Barbados will be looking forward to the game just as much: they have not played an International game in Barbados for a year, so both teams will savour the opportunity to play a 90 minute match against one another.
Guyana’s National Team last played football in October of last year in 2014 Caribbean Cup qualifiers, after two years of playing no games at all, but virtually all fans were outraged that the team chosen in 2014 by the GFF administrators (and not the Technical Director or Head Coach as usually required) did not represent the best Guyana had to offer, the players chosen were inexperienced and whilst talented, were not the best players that Guyana could have fielded. Consequently Guyana did not score a goal in the three games they played and quietly bowed out.
The last time these two sides faced was in 2011, whereby Guyana emerged victors 2-0 in Guyana and then 2-0 in Barbados. The Guyanese side used in 2011 included Christopher Nurse and striker Vurlon Mills, players who will be returning to the Guyana side for the game for the first time since 2012. Other Golden Jaguars from that successful campaign in 2011/12 such as Trayon Bobb, as well as young, exciting talent who have not featured for the National Team before, such as Purnell Schultz, Keron Solomon and Domini Garnett have also been named in the squad. That is why despite the abject results of 2014, optimism has returned from Guyanese fans for the upcoming game vs Barbados, as the squad chosen is once again inclusive of both the best domestic and overseas-based players Guyana can call on.
Christopher Nurse, Guyana’s historic captain, took some time out to speak on the National Team situation: “Being back with the national team is a fantastic reward and honour for the hard work that I have put in over the past year and throughout my career thus far. The past 2 years has been tough to swallow based upon the success the team achieved last time we had a strong squad together.”
“For the Guyanese players playing overseas it has caused numerous issues, because most countries will require you to be active with your national team in order to proceed with a visa etc, with the inactivity of the past 2 years this has been detrimental to those plying their trade overseas and those domestically looking to get contracts overseas!
I am glad that era is at an end and we can begin to rebuild the reputation for Guyana as a footballing nation and the opportunities for both domestic and overseas based players! At this stage we need to focus on ourselves, we have a fairly new squad many of whom may never have played for the senior national team and most certainly not played together as a squad.
We need to be realistic this squad is not the same squad of players that competed against Mexico and Costa Rica (in 2012). This is a talented group of young and a few experienced players. It’s is an opportunity for some new faces to stake a claim on the national set up and to begin preparations for the big games rapidly approaching in June
This game is a great opportunity to ignite the fire for national team progression but there will be a lot more to analyse than the result of the game! We have not been active productively for 2 years, we are at the bottom of a rebuilding process, no doubt with the correct preparation we will be a dominant force with the Caribbean region again with a full strength squad and in depth thorough preparation against good opposition!”
Barbados themselves did not play a game throughout the 2013 calendar year, yet that did not stop them from making real progress in 2014, qualifying for the second round of the Caribbean Cup qualifiers by virtue of drawing with Suriname and defeating Bonaire 4-1. Emmerson Boyce, who plays for English side Wigan Athletic, was their key player, his experience of playing in England’s Premier League was priceless to the side, although it is unlikely he will feature in the game against Guyana.
In the second round of qualifiers, Barbados caused an upset by defeating St Kitts and Nevis 3-2, although consequent losses to strong Caribbean sides Haiti and French Guiana meant they could not qualify for the final Caribbean Cup tournament. However, the fact the side played six games in close succession means they will be more experienced as a unit than the Guyanese side they take on in seven days. Midfielder Romelle Burgess and striker Arantees Lawrence showed in qualifying games that they will be a threat with their attacking quality.
The lack of time in which Guyana has had to appoint a Head Coach, Technical Director, backroom staff, as well as name, prepare and develop a squad for this game means the odds will be stacked against them.
The result of the game, whilst it would be great for Guyana to secure a win, will not matter as much as using this opportunity as a building block for the all-important World Cup qualifier against St Vincent and the Grenadines in June. Barbados is currently ranked 143rd in the world, fourteen places above Guyana, and thus the game will be a clear indicator of where Guyana currently lays on the world stage.
When it comes to football though, positivity can go a long way, and so I’ll leave the final words to Christopher Nurse, who said: “In regards to the Barbados game, let’s just be glad that the rebuilding process is underway. It will take time! You cannot build something great overnight; it does not work that way! But we are heading back in the right direction. So let’s get behind the squad of players and support them in representing their country with distinction both on and off the field.”
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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