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‘Lady Jags’ will bounce back warns TD Rodrigues
Leonardo Cuellar
Face Canada in another tough clash today
By Franklin Wilson in Cancun, Mexico
with the compliments of GT&T, Bakewell,
Fazia’s Collection and Crown Mining Supplies
Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation Woman’s Programme Mark Rodrigues says that the ‘Lady Jags’ will rebound following their 7-2 defeat at the hands of host team Mexico in their opening Group A match of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying competition.
Rodrigues, speaking with the Media after the game said that they knew Mexico were going to be a strong team and very well prepared. Rodrigues admitted that the Guyanese were outplayed completely – “We accept that and we’ll move on even though they had expected to win the game.”
“We played a team that is extremely technical, very well prepared, very well coached and strong in every department. In every area of the field they were strong. They were better than us today.”
Rodrigues noted that the team did the best they could have in the circumstances given the fact that a number of key starting players were unavailable to the team due to College and other commitments.
The players not in Cancun are goalkeeper Tenyka Francique, center-back Daria Owen, midfielder Shondel Archer and defender Nikkita Persaud, all solid players that have made a lasting impact since their debuts.
Commenting on the result of the game (7-2 result), Rodrigues who also is the Director of Coaching for the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida-based Central Pasco United Soccer Association said he was a bit upset that the non offside call that resulted in the first goal being scored.
“Being a very young and new team at this level I was upset because we were scored on so early and clearly it was offside and it really set our girls on the back heal. They were very nervous and that made it even worst for them. At the end like I said Mexico was the better team.”
No team he continued wants to lose by a wide margin but they will use it a learning experience to build and grow for the future.
TD Rodrigues commended his charges for being very strong and warned that they will bounce back.
“We’ve had losses in the past. We lost to Cuba in Cuba against an established team with a solid programme and the girls prepared themselves mentally for the return game in Guyana, went down a goal but came back to win that game which qualified them (Guyana) for this round.”
“Initially there’s always a mental set back but the girls will rebound from it. Again, they are strong, they know they have got a lot of football to play, they know that the level is very high and this will help them mentally in preparing better physically for future games.”
Rodrigues congratulated Mexico on the victory noting that he is well aware of the struggles their Head Coach Leonardo Cuellar who has been in charge of the Woman’s programme for more than a decade has gone through.
Cuellar is a former member of the Mexican national team, Pumas UNAM and North American Soccer League veteran.
“I think all of Mexico should be very proud and this shows that they should be considered one of the teams that will go through. It should be great games when they play higher level teams. And at the same time, congratulations to Guyana, to all our players and the coaching staff.”
Leonardo Cuellar commenting on the Guyana team said that the team is disciplined and enthusiastic noting that it is not very easy to play away from home and in front of a very hostile crowd.
“I think it’s a programme that needs supporting and they are going to be one of the nicest surprises in CONCACAF.”
Meanwhile, Guyana will be up against another tough team in Canada, hunting a fifth straight trip to the Women’s World Cup and its first CONCACAF title since 1998.
The Maple Leafs won a tough game against Trinidad and Tobago and will be in the hunt for their second win against a young Guyana team hoping to put up a better showing in this encounter.
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