A youthful Golden Jaguars unit will come up against a Tobago All Star team at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago from 6pm today.
Veteran goalkeeper Richard Reynolds will captain the Guyana team of 16 local-based players which contains only two players who were in the starting team that triumphed against Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) on November 11 for the Golden Jaguars to historically advance in FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers.
Reynolds will marshal the defense which comprises Taylor Benjamin (Canada-based) Trievin Sullivan, Colin Nelson and left back Kris Camacho. The midfield will comprise Pele’s winger Sheldon Holder, Kestor Jacobs, Anthony Benfield and Caledonia’s winger Trayon Bobb. Devon Millington will partner veteran striker Anthony “Awo” Abrams up front.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the local-based players,” Reynolds stated.
“We have been working hard over the last three weeks and the best reward is playing time,” he added.
Guyana arrived in T&T two days earlier than scheduled after preparations were hampered by the inclement weather and unavailability of training venues.
“We are very thankful for Mr. Mark Xavier (Guyana team manager) allowing us two sessions at the Stadium but the other sessions were at the Seawall far from the facilities required for the level we are preparing to meet,” stated Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz.
“Coming to Trinidad earlier afforded us three important sessions on a good facility,” he added.
“But blessed is he who has his own,” he quipped.
To join the local-based players, Shabazz added T&T- based players, left back Walter Moore, Colin Nelson, Trayon Bobb and goalkeeper Ronson Williams, all of whom play for Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA in the TT Pro League.
The rest of the squad for today’s game: Colin Abrams, Konata Manning, Andrew Murray, Pernel Schultz, Ryan Crandon, Daniel Wilson, and Junior Granderson.
Guyana play a T&T U-23 team at the same venue in Tobago on Thursday before moving on to St Vincent and Grenada for matches in those islands on February 19 and 22 respectively.
