Golden Jaguars release “strong and competitive squad”

Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach, Michael Johnson, has announced a 30-man squad, including seven standby players, to face Barbados in their first match of the CONCACAF Nations League scheduled for the National Track and Field Centre on Thursday, September 6, at 19:00h.

The squad, which consists of Guyana and international-based players from England, Canada, Portugal and Trinidad and Tobago includes three Goalkeepers, eight Defenders, six Midfielders and six Forwards. The players on standby are all Guyana-based and include one Goalkeeper, two Defenders, two Midfielders and two Forwards.

Johnson, in an invited comment, said the squad is “strong and competitive”: “We feel it’s a strong and competitive squad with a variety of options as we look to embark on the Nations League campaign. We have a positive blend of Guyana and international-based players in the squad but they all understand they have to earn the right to wear the badge.”

Among the squad is a debutant Ronayne Marsh-Brown, an England-based solid left side defensive option who played a season professionally for RKC Waalwijk in Holland. At that time, RKC Waalwijk were then playing in the Dutch Eredivisie, under former Tottenham Hotspurs coach Martin Jol. Marsh-Brown is known for his commitment to the game. He is the older brother of England Forwards Keanu and Ky Marsh-Brown.

Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Ian Greenwood, explains the standby list: “The recently-concluded preparatory “Train and Play” camp in Brazil enabled the technical staff to assess the players in the pool through a variety of exercises including fitness. While it was a competitive process to shortlist the 23-man squad, it was felt that these players had enough of what is required to wear the badge at the highest level of football in Guyana and therefore, are being called to be available in the event of injury or any unforeseen circumstances.”

The Golden Jaguars’ international-based players and the technical squad are scheduled to arrive on Sunday while Barbados’ team is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. Early-bird tickets for the Thursday’s event are available at the Guyana Football Federation Secretariat for one thousand dollars.

Tickets will also be sold at the gate. Guyana has been matched against Barbados, Turks and Caicos Islands, French Guiana and Belize and will play host to Barbados and Belize in September 2018 and March 2019 respectively while Turks and Caicos Islands and French Guiana will host Guyana in October and November 2018.