Latest update February 5th, 2025 6:02 AM
D-Day for the ‘Golden Jaguars’
Nothing less than a massive win needed
By Franklin Wilson
The Guyana National stadium at Providence will not only see history being created when the 2nd round return World Cup Qualifying game between the Guyana’s ‘Golden Jaguars’ and Suriname becomes the first football game to be played at this venue, the result will also decide the destiny of local football at least for the World Cup Campaign.
Thousands of Guyanese clad in their yellow tops are expected to pack the venue and Roar with the Golden Jaguars for this all important game.
The players, under the astute guidance of Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz and his competent support staff have been very hard at training ever since their return from Suriname last weekend.
And it is now left up to the team to deliver the goods come this afternoon when the battle lines are drawn between two sides who are expected to go at each other from the first whistle, but only the fittest will survive.
A few changes are likely for the Jaguars’ starting X1, Quacy Johnson and Dwain Jacobs who started in the first game in Paramaribo are not expected to feature among the starters.
Midfielder and playmaker, Shawn Bishop who missed that game is back to full fitness and will start, teaming up with Kayode McKinnon in the middle, Shawn Beveney and Anthony Abrams will be the other two in the middle.
Richard Reynolds will start in goal with the defence being marshaled by captain Charles Pollard along with Howard Lowe, Walter Moore on the left and Carey Harris on the right.
The lethal strike duo of Digicel Caribbean Cup leading goal score Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington and T&T Pro League FA Cup MVP Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson will be the men up front.
The approach of the ‘Jaguars’ will be an attacking one which is synonymous of the animal attacking its prey.
All the hard work has been put in so it’s now up to the players to execute the plan in the middle, a surface which is one of the best in the Caribbean.
Suriname’s Rinaldo Lupson who received two yellow cards in the first game is out of the team but few changes to their starting eleven is expected. Goalkeeper Ronny Aloema and the other starters from game one are expected to retain their places.
Captain Pollard said that they are focused on the task at hand and is confident that at the end of the 90 minutes, the Golden jaguars will be the victors, advancing to the group stages. Jamaica and Honduras are already through to this stage having defeated the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, respectively.
Some 10 second leg qualifiers were down to be contested this weekend in the North, Central America and Caribbean area.
Patrons are encouraged to be early for this afternoon’s action which kicks off at 15:30hrs. Gates will be opened from 12:00hrs.
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