Smith, Millington set to make Golden Jaguars debuts

Nick Millington, a former United States of America Under-17 footballer and Jamal Smith who plays in Sweden are likely to make their debuts for the Golden Jaguars when the play the Bolivia national side in a friendly international today in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

Millington, 21, was a member of the US team which qualified for the International Football Federation (FIFA) 2007 World Cup competition while the 24-year-old Smith is a defender with Swedish club Syrianska FC.

Nick Millington in forefront

Smith was born in Canada of Guyanese parents and could become the third player from Canada to be recruited over the past six months following the recent additions of Julien Edwards and Taylor Benjamin.

Millington plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL) with Carolina Railhawks, the former club of regular team captain Chris Nurse.

The Golden Jaguars, ranked 109 by FIFA will be using today’s game as preparation ahead of their 2014 World Cup qualifier against El Salvador next month while the number 73 ranked Bolivia, under new coach Xabier Azkargorta is preparing for their clash against Ecuador in September in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

This is the 58-year-old Azkargorta’s second spell in charge of La Verde as the Boliva national team is known.

The Bolivia national team.

Meanwhile it was announced yesterday that veteran Alpha United striker Anthony “Awo” Abrams will start up front for the Golden Jaguars in the match scheduled to kick-off at 8:00pm tonight.

The prolific 32-year-old will have his work cut out leading a Guyana attack which will be without several of its overseas-based stars such as Carl Cort, Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson and Shawn `Bubbly’ Beveney.

The Golden Jaguars players spent most of the yesterday sleeping after arriving at the Bugansvilla hotel at 3am.

The team did however manage a 70-minute training session at the Stadium.

But, despite having only just one session with the full team, coach Shabazz was looking forward to the game.

“We did some work on the team shape in one session. It is not ideal, but the game itself is a practice so we are thankful. We are eager to see what Smith and Millington would bring to the team and more importantly to evaluate our work with the local-based players,” added Shabazz.

Seasoned 28-year-old defender John Paul “JP” Rodrigues will captain the team in what will be his 16th international since making his debut in 2006 for the Jaguars.

Starting line-up: Richard Reynolds, Colin Nelson, Jamaal Smith, Walter Moore, Dwight Peters, Kayode McKinnon, Nick Millington, Dwain Jacobs, Anthony Abrams, Vurlon Mills.

Substitutes: Colin Edwards, Konata Mannings, Sheldon Holder, Kestor Jacobs, Trayon Bobb, Daniel Wilson, Andrew Murray.