Golden Jaguars set to depart Friday for Suriname clash

Golden Jaguars International Trayon Bobb on the attack against the EDFA Select-Team during their training match at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence
Golden Jaguars International Trayon Bobb on the attack against the EDFA Select-Team during their training match at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence

With less than 11 days remaining before their must-win clash with Belize in the CONCACAF Nations League, the Golden Jaguars will depart local shores on Friday for Suriname to battle the host in an international friendly on Saturday.

It will be the 29th meeting of the nations at the senior level at the Pierkhan Stadium, Nickerie, Suriname from 16:30hrs. According to an official release from the GFF, Golden Jaguars Head-Coach, Michael Johnson, who returned to local shores to supervise the team’s preparation ahead of the Belize clash said, “The game against Suriname will give the players a real stiff test and we will be able to see which players have improved in all areas of their development. The GFF Training Centre is a solid base that allows us to get some good work into the players but you can’t be competitive without games.”

He added, “With both teams involved in the Concacaf Nation’s League fixtures, this gives us the opportunity to try out player systems and develop their understanding without the scrutiny of the result being the main objective.”

The 18 member all-local player roster is expected to be named today [Wednesday] ahead of the team’s departure. The match serves as a pivotal Friendly international fixture ahead of the Belizean showdown on March 23rd at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Meanwhile, the Guyana-based unit contested another training match at the National Training Centre, Providence against the East Demerara Football Association select-team.

Assistant Coach Charles Pollard in an invited comment declared that several positives can be taken from the clash. He revealed, “We were working on possession from the last game (against Fruta Conquerors FC); from keeping possession to converting our chances. In the weekend game, the guys did well despite the opposition was not as strong as expected. We looked at our moments, the decision making and converting the chances; those were a plus, we were spot on in that regard.”