When Guyana’s Golden Jaguars square off with Barbados National squad in two friendly international football matches this weekend in Linden and Georgetown the local squad will be looking to impress ahead of several forthcoming international engagements.
The Golden Jaguars will battle with their Barbadian counterparts in the first game tomorrow evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden while the second encounter will be played at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence on Sunday.
Both teams are preparing for the 2014 World Cup qualification competition and the Olympic qualifying series.
Guyana currently ranked 110 by FIFA in the latest ranking will face a stern test against their Barbadian counterparts who are ranked 132 in the world.
Despite their current ranking and Guyana’s recent impressive showing in regional competition, the Barbadians have always posed a serious threat to their Guyanese counterparts on the field.
Officials of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) had indicated earlier that the two sides would have played a home and away friendly series are were making efforts to have a second game played in Guyana which has now materialized.
The visitors are expected to arrive in Guyana tomorrow at 13:45 hours and will travel to the mining town for the engagement.
The GFF will be showcasing new talent since the Olympic qualifiers will feature mostly players under 23 years old while a number of the senior national players who are in the Alpha United squad are gearing up for the CFU Club semi-finals and are unavailable for the two matches.
Former national striker Collie “Hitman” Hercules is the head coach of the 29-man squad, which includes several overseas-based players called up by the GFF.
Another Lindener Jimmy McLean is the assistant coach with Andrew Hazel performing duties as goalkeeping coach.
Guyana will compete against Aruba, Dominican Republic and Cuba in Group C of the Olympic qualifying competition slated for next month.
The local squad includes British-based Christopher Bourne, Vurlon Mills, Akeel Clarke and Colin Nelson based in Trinidad and Tobago as well as Oswald Cornette, Govano Dos Santos, Ryan Crandon, Sheldon Shepherd, Les Charles Critchlow, Kelon Cameron, Trais Henry, Trevon Lythcott, Justin Collins, Clive Nobrega, Anthony Holder, Brandon Beresford, Calvin De Souza, Chris Nurse, Treyon Bobb, Wlliam Europe, Delroy Ferdinand, Olvis Mitchell, Kevin Beaton, Delwin Fraser, Manesseh Primo and Sheldon Holder.
The return match in Barbados is set for next Sunday in Bridgetown.
Kick off on both days is 19:00 hours.
