By Emmerson Campbell
After holding El Salvador to a draw on Friday, the Golden Jaguars will look to take full advantage of their home turf and roar to victory against their Group B foes in an all important match tonight at the Providence National Stadium.
In a hostile environment at the Estadio Cuscatlan Stadium, 19-year old, Caledonia AIA, left-winger Trayon Bobb’s double strike in his first start of the North, Central American and Caribbean Zone third round 2014 World Cup qualifiers put hope in the national players as well as the nation that Guyana can compete with El Salvador.
The match between Guyana and El Salvador ranked 122nd and 67th in the FIFA world rankings respectively will kick off at 20:00hrs.
During a pre match press conference yesterday which was held at the Princess Hotel, Coach Jamaal Shabazz said the team will be going all out for a victory and dubbed tonight’s match up “the most important game of our lives.
“This game is the most important game of our lives because it decides if we stay in the campaign mathematically or if we are out of the campaign so it is the most important game that we have to play in this tournament.”
Shabazz added that the draw showed that once the national side plays as a unit and stays focused and remain positive, they can accomplish great things.
Said Shabazz:”Out of the draw we understand that once we focus and try to be positive and everybody works hard and without fear we can make a good accomplishment, we will approach the game with the same mindset that we played on Friday and try to be organized and try to be competitive.”
Team Manager of El Salvador, Francisco Solis, through an interpreter said that his side has made some changes in order earn a positive result tonight.
Both teams currently languish at the bottom of the group, behind CONCACAF powerhouses Mexico and Costa Rica, therefore tonight’s game carries much importance for the Jaguars as they seek to move into a qualification place in the group at the end of this round.
Thus home support at Providence will be a key factor in aiding the Jaguars getting a victory in tonight’s encounter.
Tickets cost $3000 across the board.
At the press conference,brief remarks were also made by representatives of Ansa McAL and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and president (a g) of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Franklin Wilson.
Guyana squad:
Richard Reynolds, Colin Edwards (Goalkeepers), Charles Pollard, Walter Moore, Colin Nelson, John Paul “JP” Rodrigues, Jamaal Smith (Defenders), Chris Nurse (Captain), Kayode McKinnon, Konata Mannings, Nick Millington, Dwight Peters, Dwain Jacobs, Kester Jacobs, Ricky Shakes, Trayon Bobb (Mid-Fielders), Carl Cort, Gregory Richardson, Vurlon Mills, Anthony Abrams and Shawn Beveney (Strikers).
Coach: Jamaal Shabazz, Assistant Coach: Wayne Dover, Trainer: Americo Falopa, General Manager: Rawle Adams, Assistant Manager: Mark Xavier, Equipment Manager: Trevor Burnett, Goalkeeper Coach: Andrew Hazel, Physiotherapist: Debita Harripersaud.
El Salvador Squad:
Dagoberto Portillo, Benji Villalobos, Carlos Romeo Moneagudo, Dennis Alas, Isidro Gutierrez, Osael Romero, Elder Figueroa, Alexander Larin, Ramon Alfredo Sanchez, Eliseo Quintanilla, Nelson Bonilla, Christian Castillo, Alfredo Pacheco, Darwin Cerén, Steven Francis Purdy, Victor Turcios, Herbert Sosa, Mark Lester Blanco, Jaime Alas, Rafael Burgos, Milton Molina, Ricardo Ulloa, Xavier Garcia, Jonathan Aguila Joya, Derby Carillo, Cuellar Yimi, Irving Valdez, Julio Martinez, Omar Mejia. Coach: Juan Castillo.
