Guyana U-17 girls depart for Concacaf Championship

The Guyana Under-17 Girls’ National Team has departed for the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship in the Dominican Republic, with Assistant Coach Levi Braithwaite stepping up to replace Head Coach Akilah Castello, who was unable to travel due to a personal emergency.

The diverse 20-player squad, featuring young women based in Orealla, Kamarang, Kwakwani, Georgetown and the United States, will face the winner of Group E in the Round of 16 in San Cristobel on Saturday (April 30).

Unbeaten tournament favourites Mexico, top of the group with one game left to play and a very large goal difference, are virtually guaranteed to be Guyana’s opponents.

The Guyana-based squad has been in intense training at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre in Providence ahead of the tournament.

“We wish the girls all the best in the Dominican Republic as they fly the flag for Guyana at the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship,” GFF President Wayne Forde said.

“This the first time we have reached the final stages of this tournament in back-to-back qualifications, which shows the tangible progress we are making at this level, thanks to continuous investments in our Guyana-wide programme and scouting efforts in the diaspora.”

“We know the team will face very strong opponents in this stage of the competition, so it is important to manage our expectations,” Forde said.

“However, we can be sure that the squad and staff will make us all proud, on and off the field of the play. This Concacaf tournament is another excellent opportunity for our players and staff to showcase their talent and play at higher level than they are used to, and to learn and develop as we build capacity and capabilities for the future.”

Guyana qualified for the 2022 championship by finishing second in their qualification group, including wins against Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands and a defeat to Honduras in October and November 2021.