Golden Jaguars seek first win against Reggae Boyz

Calm before the storm-Reggae Boyz Assistant coach Jerome Waite [left] posing alongside Golden Jaguars Captain Sam Cox [2nd from left] and Assistant coach Charles Pollard [3rd from left] at the end of the pre-match press conference. Also in the photo is Team Manager James Pearson  
Calm before the storm-Reggae Boyz Assistant coach Jerome Waite [left] posing alongside Golden Jaguars Captain Sam Cox [2nd from left] and Assistant coach Charles Pollard [3rd from left] at the end of the pre-match press conference. Also in the photo is Team Manager James Pearson  

History will firmly be in the corner of the visitors when the Reggae Boyz, Jamaica’s National Men’s Football team, battles the Golden Jaguars tonight in their League-B encounter of the CONCACAF Nations League at the National Track and Field Centre, Providence.

Guyana possess an undesirable record against the Jamaicans, losing all four previous meetings. The most recent encounter ended 4-2 in 2016. During the aforementioned period, the Golden Jaguars backline surrendered 15 goals while only scoring twice.

However, the 178th FIFA ranked Guyanese enter the clash on the back of a 1-0 victory over Aruba on Friday in Curacao in their Nations League opener.

It was the first win for Guyana in six matches, following a record of four losses [Bermuda, Haiti, United States of America and Panama] and a draw [Trinidad and Tobago].

Statistically, the Golden Jaguars have recorded five goals during the six match timeline, while allowing 13 concessions.

Charles Pollard, Assistant coach of Golden Jaguars during a pre-match conference said, “It is a massive game, I think it is very strange that you will find Guyana playing at home and we start as an underdog. But starting as an underdog is a very good challenge but I think the guys are very excited.”

According to Pollard, “I think our chances are equal, the ball is round. The team that we provide now is mixed with overseas and local. The young guys’ enthusiasm always high and it could be a very competitive game and as I said our chances are equal.”

Meanwhile Golden Jaguars captain Samuel Cox echoed the sentiments of Pollard, noting, “I do feel that going into this game that we are the underdogs. We just had a really good result and performance away to Aruba. The boys applied themselves really well so that now gives us a little confidence heading into the game at Leonora. Its 90 minutes of football and we are going to give everything we can to get the result.”

Asked if the previous meeting with the Jamaicans will have a psychological effect on the team, Cox said, “We always remember the toughest defeats, I look back at that day at Leonora and it was heartbreaking after being 2-0 up against one of the Caribbean giants in Jamaica. Then going into extra time and then losing 4-2 in the end was a tough one to take. We were that close back then qualifying for the Gold Cup, we didn’t do it then but we learnt from our mistakes, we came back stronger and we had the success in the summer of going to the Gold Cup and entering a major tournament for the first time in our history.”

According to Cox, “Again we are going to learn from our mistakes, its completely different squad and composition. It’s a good blend of local and overseas players, we have to manage expectations of players, fans alike because it is almost a transition period from the summer where we had Coach Johnson and now we got Coach Maximo in charge. It’s a different team dynamic, he has had under a week to work with the boys, and training has gone to plan. He has put out his methodology and philosophy that he wants to get across and the boys have taken that onboard but Rome was not built in a day, it will take time and we know we are coming up against a really strong side in Jamaica who has brought along some really good players who have a wealth of talent. But on our given day we can beat anybody, we have some really good boys, overseas and local based boys. The experience of Sheldon Holder, Neil Danns, Matthew Briggs, Keanu Marsh-Brown, we know and we feel if we put out a good performance anything could happen so we are going to the game with confidence for sure.”   

Guyana’s team which is under the tutelage of recently appointed Head-coach Brazilian Marcio Maximo reads Goalkeepers Alex Murray [locally based], Akel Clarke [locally born], Quillan Roberts [overseas based], Defenders Sam Cox [overseas based], Sherwin Skeete [locally based], Kevin Layne [locally based], Raphael Edwards [locally based], Matthew Briggs [overseas based], Liam Gordon [overseas based], Midfielders Neil Danns [overseas based], Clive Nobrega [locally based], Daniel Wilson [locally based], Delwin Fraser [locally based], Stephen Duke McKenna [overseas based], Ryan Hackett [locally based], Forwards Kelsey Benjamin [locally born], Keanu Marsh-Brown [overseas based], Pernell Schultz [locally based], Terell Ondaan [overseas based] and Sheldon Holder [locally born].

Meanwhile, Jamaica enter the contest on a positive note following a 6-0 drubbing of Antigua and Barbuda in their Nations League opener.

Prior to their aforesaid result, the Jamaicans possessed a record of two wins [Honduras, Panama], two draws [El Salvador, Curacao] and a loss [USA]. The numbers during the aforesaid period makes for interesting reading as they scored and conceded six goals respectively.

Jerome Waite, Jamaica’s Assistant coach said, “We are looking forward to a competitive game from the opponent, Guyana has won their first game 1-0, defeating Aruba, we have won our first game 6-0 at home and we are looking forward to a competitive game. The Nations League you will have to take it seriously because it also give you the opportunity to qualify for their Gold Cup, it is something that you have to look forward to and give it your best shot.”

Questioned about the team’s dominant history against the locals and the memories of the recent meeting, Waite said “It is something that we are looking forward to, the last time both teams met was 2016, the date was actually the 10th of October and it was game that we would have fought pretty much heavily to get back into that game because they [Guyana] went up 2-0. We fought back and score all of four goals. This time around it’s a new generation of players, only a few players who played in that game are still around so the nucleus still look good and the chemistry they are only getting better as they play more games and we are looking forward to another exciting game.”

According to Waite, “Jamaica playing any team from the region is always added pressure because those countries dream to play against Jamaica and they will always put their best foot forward. We are always under a lot of pressure to continue to perform at our utmost best.”

Asked about the composition of the squad, Waite disclosed, “It comprise a few local players, players as far as Europe are part of the squad including players from the MLS and USL.”