Let’s Get Ready To Roar Golden Jaguars

Jun 07, 2015 Sports

By Franklin Wilson
It’s time again for Guyana’s flagship football team, the ‘Golden Jaguars’ to begin its quest to qualify for the flagship tournament world football, FIFA World Cup, the next edition set for Russia in 2018.

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz indicating that it is time for action.

By no means an easy task to reach that pinnacle to become one of 32 nations earning that right to be among the best in the world, but equally it isn’t insurmountable but will require the efforts of all and sundry in making that become realty.
Governments, businesses and spectators must all combine efforts with the local governing body in order to propel and fuel the players as they work hard on and off the field to make the dream reality.
Guyana qualified for the third stage of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying in the lead up to the 2014 World Cup that was held in neighboring Brazil playing the likes of Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica after downing old rivals Trinidad and Tobago on that memorable day, November 11, 2011.
Now it’s time to focus on Russia 2018 and that journey will begin in earnest on Wednesday when the Golden Jaguars takes on another old rival and potent team, St. Vincent & the Grenadines’, Vincy Heat.
Head Coach of the Guyana team, Jamaal Shabazz has expressed confidence while being very mindful of the exploits of the Vincy Heat side which finished second in the

Part of the crowd at the Guyana vs St. Lucia game at the providence Stadium on March 22 last.

Caribbean Cup in 1995 and also played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1996.
Ranked at 112 to Guyana’s 158 in the latest FIFA Coca Cola World Rankings, St. Vincent & the Grenadines will be aiming to maintain their dominance against Guyana but Captain Christopher Nurse and his charges will be keen on reversing that trend.
The Guyana 21-man squad is a mixture of experience and solid youths who have proven that they belong; the likes of forward Daniel Wilson, Trayon Bobb, Brandon Beresford, Sheldon Holder, Eon Alleyne, Konata Manning and Akel Clarke.
The experience of Captain Nurse, Walter Moore, Ricky Shakes, Jamaal Smith, Collin Nelson, Vurlon Mills, Dwain Jacobs along with Neil Danns, Matthew Briggs, Emery Welshman and Marcel Barrington who will be playing their first WCQ for Guyana are hoping to deliver.
Starting with a win will be critical to set the train in motion but it would not be easy against Vincy Heat in their backyard at 15:30hrs on Wednesday.
Preparations have been long and hard and according to Shabazz, there was a high level of commitment, discipline and desire displayed by the 38 players who have been involved so far.
The signs have been good all-around, the GFF Normalisation Committee doing their bit to organize matches which saw Guyana playing Barbados (2-2), St. Lucia (2-0), Grenada (2-0) and Suriname (0-1).
It is now time to step in the middle and deliver the goods while not taking the opposition for granted.
The St. Vincent & the Grenadines team is currently being managed by Kingstown-born Cornelius Huggins, who won 96 caps for his country and formerly played for Kedah FA in the Malaysian Super League.
They have called up Welsh National League football club Brickfield Rangers forward Brad Miguel to their line-up for this pair of matches. The 21 year-old was born in Kingston, St Vincent, in the Caribbean before moving to England as a youngster.
Also called up by the Vincy Heat is Oalex Anderson, a prolific marksman who plays for Seattle Sounders FC 2, a level three club in the USA football pyramid.
Curacao, a team that Guyana would have defeated time and again two nights ago beat Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly International 1-0. This result underscores the fact that all the Caribbean teams have been strengthening in order to compete.
Fans, supporters, Government, business and the media, it is time to rally behind our team and propel them to victory. Your prayers are needed every day and your presence on Sunday next at the Providence Stadium must be second to none.
Wear your yellow on Wednesday to work to show support and wear it again next Sunday to cheer the Golden Jaguars on to the next round of qualifying.