Golden Jaguars battle Bajan Tridents today at Barbados National Stadium

Feb 01, 2015 Sports

Welshman to make debut

By Franklin Wilson in Barbados compliments of
Crown Mining Supplies, Len’s Craft Optical,
 Industrial Safety Supplies, Fitness Express

The battle lines will be drawn this evening in the Land of the Flying Fish, Barbados,

The Golden Jaguars are engaged in some light stretches on the beach yesterday in Barbados led by captain Chris Nurse.

when Guyana Golden Jaguars face off with the Barbados Tridents in an international friendly at the National Stadium kicking off at 19:00hrs.
It would be renewing of rivalry between two nations that have always taken their rivalry in sports including cricket seriously, and while the Guyanese have triumphed over their foes in the last two encounters in 2011, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz noted at yesterday’s press conference at the Dover Beach Hotel, that the last game here was the toughest for the Guyanese during their CONCACAF qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.
Today’s friendly is part of the home team’s preparations for their 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, CONCACAF stage which will see them entertaining Turks and Caicos Islands on March 23 in their home game.
Barbados Technical Director Marcos Falopa indicated that his team will be a young one for this encounter, while the Guyanese line-up is also a mixture of youth with a few experienced players being led by Guyana’s most successful captain, Chris Nurse.
Shabazz also noted that this is the start of a rebuilding process Guyana’s football. Assistant Coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover who also shared the head table yesterday, noted his pleasure at being involved once again at this level and they will seek to restore some pride back into the game. “We are looking forward to the challenge against Barbados and a win in the game.”
Captain Nurse, who represented his charges, said that it was a tough ten day camp but necessary given the lack of domestic football in Guyana.

Shabazz makes a point at yesterday’s Press Conference at the Dover Beach Hotel, Barbados. Others in pic from right, Faizal Khan, Wayne Dover, Chris Nurse.

“If we are organized and disciplined in our performance we have a good chance of getting a good result against Barbados We know the last time we came here it was one of the toughest games we played.”
Nurse mirrored Shabazz’ comments on the rebuilding stage of the game noting that the process will take time in order to return to the glory days and go even further.
“We know that Guyana is a country with a lot of talented players but now we are in the process of re-building which means that we have to get the right pieces to make the team successful and the right individuals. I think, more than any other camp, we’ve had the right mentality as a team unit. So as long as we can go on to the field and play as hard as we can and remain discipline, we can get a good result on Sunday.
Shabazz noted that the Jaguars would play a very organized game especially in defence whilst giving a lot of effort.
“This game means so much to us, as coach Dover said, we played Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador in the next round but what stands out for us in that World Cup Qualifying campaign was the Barbados game. We got three points but it was the most difficult match I ever participated in. The intensity was high, and while we scored two goals, Barbados never stopped and credit to them.”
The Barbados FA was complimented for arranging this friendly match outside the FIFA window, Shabazz noted that they were interested in developing the game among the young players. He also complimented the GFF Normalisation Committee for the work they have been doing since being put in place by FIFA.
He lamented the fact that coming out of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championships which ended recently in Jamaica, no Caribbean side qualified for the Under-20 World Cup. Mexico won the CONCACAF Championship defeating Panama 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the final.
Honduras and the USA are the other CONCACAF teams that have qualified for the Under-20 World Cup set for New Zealand from May 30, 2015.
Starting X1: Derrick Carter, Jamaal Smith, Colin Nelson, Dwain Jacobs, Kris Camacho, Vurlon Mills, Christopher Nurse (Captain), Eusi Phillips, Sheldon Holder, Trayon Bobb, Emery Welshman.