“We have one more bite at the cherry”- Golden Jaguars coach

The Golden Jaguars are still in the competition but must win their final qualifier against Belize and hope other results are favourable to stand any chance of reaching their first Concacaf Gold Cup, according to Guyana Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Michael Johnson.

French Guiana beat Guyana 2-1 on Tuesday in the Concacaf Nations League, leaving the Golden Jaguars 15^th in the qualification table on seven points, with the top ten qualifying for the region’s premier international tournament.

“We have one more bite at the cherry. We have to win our last game to stand any chance of qualifying, we need to do our bit in the hope that results will go our way,” Johnson said.

“We are still in the competition. We need the home support to come to the national stadium in your colours in support of a team that needs your help in winning this game.”

In a frank and honest assessment of the performance in Cayenne, Johnson singled out a poor start to the match against French Guiana. “We were not at the races in the first half and we conceded poor goals. We didn’t start playing until an hour into the game. The fitness level of players is a real concern.”

However, he picked out battling performances from 18-year-old Dagenham and Redbridge midfielder Elliot Bonds and skipper Neil Danns as “a credit to the team” and expressed sympathy for the squad after a tough result.

“My experiences as an international player for Jamaica put me in a unique position to understand how players feel and how it impacts them,” he said.

GFF President Wayne Forde said: “I would like to thank the players and coaching staff for giving their all and doing their best. It was a heart-breaking and disappointing result that leaves our Gold Cup dreams in the balance. However, while we still have a slim chance of qualifying, we must remain positive.”