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“Happy to be back in the national set-up” – Vurlon Mills
Talented striker Vurlon Mills has expressed his pleasure at returning to 
the national team for the first time in five (5) months, for the Golden Jaguars upcoming friendly international tour to Martinique and Guadeloupe from May 2 – 6.
The 24-year old Mills has played nine (9) international for Guyana scoring five (5) goals since making his debut in 2011 versus Barbados in friendly match. Along with English based right-winger Ricky Shakes, he was the Golden Jaguars leading goal-scorer during the second round qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 last year against Trinidad, Barbados and Bermuda – scoring two (2) goals in 6 matches.
However, as aforementioned Mills has not donned the colours of the national team since the November 15th, 2011 qualifier in Trinidad, even though he returned to competitive football within the last month.
This is so because he was sidelined with a cartilage knee-injury, while playing for his Trinidad and Tobago Pro League (TTPL) Club T&Tec, in a league fixture on December 6, 2011 versus Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA.
Mills spoke to the Golden Jaguars Media during the national teams training session at the Alpha United Ground, Thomas Lands yesterday. He stated his relief to be back playing football finally and is already looking forward to upcoming exciting challenges that the national team has in store for them, with the opening, third round, World Cup Qualifier versus Mexico at the Estadio Azteca just 42 days away.
“I’m glad to be playing for the Golden Jaguars. It wasn’t easy getting back to this stage of full recovery at all. I did a lot of hard work during therapy with the club physiotherapist and doctors which sometimes had me doing work three times a day which was fairly intense. But I kept the discipline with the aim of getting back fit for my club and the national team and here I am now”, Mills recounted.
He added: ”Hopefully now that I am back, starting with these games against Martinique and Guadeloupe, my aim is to stay injury free since we have some big games coming up versus Jamaica and Mexico in a month period.
During the now concluded 2011/12 T&TPL season, his club T&Tec who were leading the points standing for the majority of the season, in their debut season, finished agonizingly in second place on 39 points behind eventual champions W Connection who claimed 40 points to win the championship.
Returning from injury during the back end of that season, Mills scored an impressive five (5) goals in six games including a hat-trick. He further spoke about his form and the general season with his club.
“I was fairly pleased with my form in the last month after returning from injury. I didn’t expect things to go so smoothly admittedly, but I guess it was good reward for the hard work I put in”, explained Mills in a humble tone.
The striker continued by explaining the inexperience amongst the entire team set-up at T&TEC at a crucial phase of the season, was the sole determining factor with him not having a T&TPL winners medallion currently.
“T&Tec had one of the better teams in the league this year for sure and for the majority of the season, even while I was absent the team certainly played like the best. But I guess given this was our first season, inexperience in some crucial games at the end in which we lost, was what cost us. Next season though hopefully the lessons learnt this year will help us to possibly win the title”, reasoned Mills.
Mills concluded his thoughts by gauging his view on Guyana’s lucrative upcoming friendly versus Jamaica on May 18 in Kingston and the Mexico World Cup Qualifier.
“This is an exciting period for the national team and I’m sure all the players wherever they are in the world right now are eagerly awaiting the start of these matches. For me personally, playing against Jamaica one of the best teams in the Caribbean historically will be great test of my ability. I’m not sure how much of our overseas based player we are going to have for that game, but as an experienced player I will be looking to lead from the front”, highlighted Mills in a positive manner.
He concluded by saying:”The Mexico game against those level of players will easily be one of the biggest games our lives, but these friendly matches we have left will play a key part in us being in peak form mentally, physically and tactically come June 8.”
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