An extended Guyana-based national squad will this weekend commence the Guyana Football Federation’s two-month preparations for the final CONCACAF Gold Cup and Nations League home qualifier against Belize on Saturday, March 23.
The squad of 35 players was chosen following a GFF Talent ID process and selection meeting involving GFF technical officials and top local coaches. Guyana is in a strong position to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in its history, with the top regional competition slated for June and July this year. The Golden Jaguars are eighth in the qualification table going into the final round of matches, with the top 10 teams joining Mexico, USA, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama and Honduras at the Gold Cup.
“We are excited by the large, diverse pool of local talent that we have identified with the help of some top local coaches and GFF technical experts,” said GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood. “Each of these players now has the golden opportunity to work hard and prove their worth over the next two months as Head Coach Michael Johnson assesses local and overseas talent for the final squad.”
The GFF Talent ID Panel consisted of: Charles Pollard, National U-20 Head Coach Wayne Dover, GFF Coach Mentor and Fruta Conquerors Head Coach Sampson Gilbert, Den Amstel Head Coach Oneal Heywood, GFF Technical Development Officer Eon DeViera, Western Tigers Head Coach Calvin Allen, GFF Youth Development Officer and Milerock Head Coach Bryan Joseph, GFF Coach Education Director Wilson Toledo, GFF Head of Recruitment Faizal Khan, and the GFF Technical Director.
The local squad will be put through their paces in a series of fitness tests on Saturday and Sunday at the GFF National Technical Centre at Providence. The players will then train three times a week to compete for places in the final squad for the Belize clash.
