Christopher Nurse, former captain of the Golden Jaguars Senior Team, says that Guyana has the ability and overall capacity to produce a noteworthy campaign at the impending 2022 FIFA World Qualifiers slated for the month of October.
The former Edmonton FC midfielder said, “I think Guyana have a very good chance in the qualifiers. I think the key is going to be able to call on players who are competing consistently at a respected high level and our player pool allows us the luxury of a large high-calibre talent pool overseas.”
Nurse, 36, stated that amendments to the qualification process have made participation at international tournaments a much more accessible outcome and possibility. He added, “I believe the team has the capacity and there have been amendments in the qualification processes that have made many of the major tournaments a more realistic goal and more accessible to a wider pool of Caribbean nations than they may have been in prior years, and Guyana are included in that group of nations. So the opportunity is there despite the setbacks almost every industry is facing right now with COVID-19, once football is back playing and the uncertainty subsides I hope Guyana can continue to make forward progress.”
Guyana will commence their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers during the October section of the International Friendly Window. A new format will be utilized by the confederation and will comprise three rounds and include all member associations.
The first section will feature 30 teams ranked from 6-35 based on the July 12th 2020 FIFA rankings. Guyana is ranked 19th. The teams will be divided into six groups of five, and will play four games each during the October and November International Windows. The respective group winners will progress to the second round of the event.
The second round will feature the respective group winners battling in home and away series during the March 2021 match window, with the three resulting victors progressing to the final round which will consist of eight teams, five of whom are ranked 1-5 on the CONCACAF standings. Upon the conclusion of the final round, the top three teams will qualify to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The fourth-placed finisher will contest the Confederation Playoff.
According to Nurse, it’s imperative that the locally-based players try their utmost to maintain their physical condition ahead of the impending campaign. He disclosed that while training cannot replicate the physicality and overall psychology of actual match practice, consistent training can aid in the regaining of physical form.
He added, “It’s important that the local players do their best at this time to keep themselves in the best condition that they can, because when that time arrives they will need to be ready. There is no training that can replicate match practice but the little that they do daily can help them regain form quicker once there is a clear return to play.”
