The National Sports Commission (NSC) has named Guyana’s 18-man football squad for this weekend’s Inter-Guiana Games’ (IGG) first leg in Georgetown where it will be competing against Suriname and French Guiana.
Andrew Murray Jr, Manasseh Primo and Ryan Crandon who were part of last year’s team that played in Suriname will have another opportunity to bring glory back to Guyana after being named in this year’s crew.
According to Denis ‘Chow’ Hunte, coach of the men’s team, the selection process was easy for him since all of the players are active in most of their respective first division clubs and this also is a blessing for his coaching staff because they had limited time preparing the team.
“I think the team has a lot of experience because most of the players have represented Guyana before at the international youth level. We didn’t have much time as a team together but I think we can bring the title back home,” said Hunte.
The team played to a one-nil victory last week against BV/Triumph United with Andrew Murray who has been named captain of the team for the second time around, leading by example as he netted the team’s lone goal.
At the last IGG games in Suriname under former national coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover, Guyana had to settle for second place in football after winning against French Guiana and drawing nil all with the host country.
However, on this occasion Hunte is confident that the team will reclaim that title: “I am certain that this team will do well.
I can’t really match them to last year’s team because I was not involved with that squad but I know all of these players by heart and I know that they can pull this off.”
He singled out Primo, Murray and Crandon to lead the squad with their vast experience and called on the newcomers to step up to the challenge.
He acknowledged, however, that the task of reclaiming the title for Guyana will be great since defending champs Suriname have always been Guyana’s major rival in the sport over the years.
The team is expected to be encamped from tomorrow ahead of their opening clash against French Guiana on Friday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground.
Guyana’s team for this year’s IGG games reads:
Goal Keepers: Clifton Halley and Odell Allicock
Defenders: Colin Nelson, Ryan Crandon, Calvin De Souza, Clyde Bascom, Mortimer Ramdehall and Lumumba Hinds.
Midfield: Donald Latchman, Paul Babb, Anthony Belfield, Devon Moseley, Andrea Sookoo and Kevon Barry.
Forwards: Manasseh Primo, Andrew Murray, Ron Fiedtkou and Whitney Welcome.
