Do or die for Golden Jaguars and Vincy Heat in return WCQ today

Jun 14, 2015 Sports

Most important game of our lives – Shabazz

By Franklin Wilson
Only one team will advance to the third stage of qualifying in the ongoing

Guyana’s Golden Jaguars before they took on SVG in the first leg on Wednesday last. They will be going all out for victory today.

CONCACAF round of action for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 when the dust is settled this evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
It will be the home team, Guyana’s Golden Jaguars taking on visitors, St. Vincent & the Grenadines Vincy Heat in what is anticipated to be nothing less than an epic battle with the respective nations knowing that only the winner will be going forward.
Guyana will start this encounter with the physiological advantage following the 2-2 tie in the first game on Wednesday last at the Arnos Vale Play Field in St. Vincent. Vincy Heat battled their way back twice to salvage a draw which gives them a chance of advancing providing they can overcome the Golden Jaguars this evening.
That will however be a monumental task given the reinforcements the home team has now with the English based quartet of Neil Danns, Marcel Barrington, Matthew Briggs and Sam Cox,

Substitute Ricky Shakes (#14) shoots past SVG’s goalie Winslow Mc Dowall for Guyana’s second goal.

being granted citizenship.
Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz speaking with Kaieteur Sport from the team Hotel yesterday, said that they Technical Staff is elated that the players have been grated their passports which enables them to be in contention but it does not guarantee them making the final starting eleven.
“But it gives us the choice to choose horses for courses. We want to thank the government personnel that acted swiftly, all of them, to make it happen; we’re thankful for that.”
Shabazz was quick to point out that this game is the most important of their lives pointing out that they have to chose the players carefully that will do the job for Guyana today.
“We have a good spirit in the team and we have a good feeling towards going to get a positive result.”
Playing at home, Shabazz said, his charges will play with more confidence and take the game to their opponents whilst playing with more heart and desire.
“I thought at times in the game in St. Vincent we were timid and tentative. This game we want to be more assertive going forward and playing more like a team playing at home.”
With the English players now being available changes would be made to the starting eleven Shabazz informed. Danns, Briggs and Cox will all make their World Cup debuts; sitting out the starting team are Dwain Jacobs, Vurlon Mills and Sheldon Holder.
The Guyanese fans are once again being urged to come out in their thousands to urge the team on to victory and a place in the next round of qualifying. According to Shabazz, they need to be part of the rebuilding process of football in Guyana.
“We’ve been through a lot as a country in football and this is a time for all the warring factions, all the different stakeholders to come together and see how we can give that good vibes and moral support to the team and be part of this process.”
World Cup time is a special time in any nation he posited, a time for total participation. “In this time I urge everybody to come and participate and hold the flag and play your role in the process of taking this football forward.”
When St. Vincent touched down on Friday afternoon at the Ogle International Airport, both their Head Coach Cornelius Huggins and Captain Dorren Hamlet said they were confident of defeating the Golden Jaguars who have not lost to a Caribbean side at home since 2007.
Vincy Heat displayed a lot of heart and speed at home but will find that the atmosphere tonight will be very hostile with fans expected to be donned in their gold or yellow shirts cheering the Golden Jaguars on. The home team is expected to be decked out in their new Admiral gold kit having worn the green in St. Vincent.
Kick off time is 19:00hrs or 7pm, gates will be opened at 17:00hrs or 5pm.
Starting X1: Akel Clarke, Colin Nelson, Jamaal Smith, Matthew Briggs, Sam Cox, Christopher Nurse (Captain), Brandon Beresford, Daniel Wilson, Walter Moore, Neil Danns, Emery Welshman.