Latest update April 1st, 2025 5:37 PM
Golden Jaguar Beresford targets success in Europe!
Brandon Beresford, moments after scoring in World Cup qualifying.
By Santokie Nagulendran
Despite being disappointingly eliminated in June’s World Cup qualifier against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, many players in the Golden Jaguars side used the matches to stand out and give exceptional performances.
One such player was midfielder Brandon Beresford, 23, who made his senior debut for Guyana as an 18-year old in 2010, and went on to score the opening goal during the first-leg of the World Cup qualifier in St Vincent this past June.
Having also represented Guyana previously at an Under-20 level, Beresford, who resides in USA and recently graduated from Graceland University, is currently in England and scored the winner for English Club Yeovil FC whilst on trial in a pre-season friendly last week. Beresford kindly took some time out to speak on his career to date:
Santokie Nagulendran (SN) -Firstly, what is your link to Guyana and was it a country you had visited before playing for the National Team?
Brandon Beresford (BB)-Both of my parents are Guyanese. My mother is from Bartica and my father is from Georgetown. I had visited Guyana before I’d been called up, once before when I was very young.
(SN)- How did the call-up to the National Team come about? What club/team were you playing football at the time for and was it a surprise to get called up?
(BB)-The first call up came in 2010 while I was at Graceland University in America. Guyana came to my hometown Atlanta to play a match against Guatemala. I’m not quite sure how, but I know that my father had a big part in contacting the federation regarding me playing with them in the game. I didn’t know that I was going to get the call up until a couple days before, so it was a big surprise to me.
(SN)- Did the experience of training/playing with the Golden Jaguars this year develop your overall game?
Did Coach Shabazz give you any specific advice to help develop?
(BB)-Yes it did help. Playing at a higher level will always help to further develop your overall game, and when you bring in the like of professional footballers who have had experience in leagues in Europe who you have to compete with for a spot on the team and in the starting line-up you either rise to the level of those players or get left behind.
I have not had much interaction with Coach Shabazz outside of National team camps and matches, however Coach Shabazz has always encouraged me to adapt to the needs of the team, and this has contributed to my growth as a player.
More importantly is the fact that he has rewarded the work that I have put in with the opportunity to be the starting central-midfielder for the National Team.
(SN)- Would scoring a goal against SVG in a World Cup qualifying game rank as a career highlight for you?
(BB)-Easily the greatest moment in my career so far. To score a goal on the international stage is something that some people can only dream of doing, to do so in a World Cup qualifier is even more amazing and I have been blessed enough to have the opportunity to actually do it.
(SN)-You’re currently in England at the moment and scored a goal recently for professional club Yeovil FC, did you find playing in England more physically demanding than the States and do you ultimately hope to forge a career in England?
(BB)-The football in England is definitely different from that in the States, but I believe that it is something that I can adapt to with time. The experience with Yeovil was a great one given the fact that I got the call about the game less than 24 hours before. Scoring what turned out to be the winning goal in 45 minutes of playing time was the icing on the cake. I would certainly love to play in England as it has one of the best leagues in the world, and my Guyanese team-mates who play here in England have all been very encouraging and willing to help me out if I need it. I believe there has been some very strong interest from Yeovil Town FC as well as some other English clubs, but obtaining a work permit to play in England is quite difficult, even though my father’s family are originally from here and Guyana is part of the British Commonwealth.
(SN)- Finally, if another call-up came for the Golden Jaguars, would you be happy to return to the team?
(BB)-Certainly, representing Guyana is something that I look forward to for years to come.
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