Guyana, Bermuda promise ‘mouth-watering’ contest tonight
Guyana’s National Women’s team along with members of the coaching staff
Guyana’s National Women’s team along with members of the coaching staff

WITH the CONCACAF Caribbean qualifying tournament (Group E) kicking off tonight, two sides, Guyana and Bermuda, will clash for the first time in female football. This matchup promises to be a mouth-watering contest when they meet at the Leonora Track and Field Centre.

The two will play the second match of tonight’s double-header from 19:30hrs, after the opening game between Barbados and Suriname at 17:00hrs.
Both coaches, Dr Ivan Joseph (Guyana) and Naquita Robinson (Bermuda), confessed that their women’s programme is in a rebuilding phase, but winning the group and advancing to the next stage is their ultimate goal.

Bermuda’s coaching staff (L-R), Vance Browne (assistant coach), Naquita Robinson (head coach) and Davon Cooper (goalkeeper coach)

While Dr Joseph stated that he is a defence-first coach, Robinson said her aim is to score as many goals as possible, especially since they will be playing against a seasoned Guyana team.

Speaking on the composition of the team, Robinson told reporters yesterday that while the team will feature some of the players from their 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship squad, majority of the team is made up of players who are scattered in the USA’s collegiate system.

According to Robinson, not much is known of the Guyanese team, except that they have always qualified for the CONCACAF tournaments (2010, 2016), which translates to their quality.
For Dr Joseph, the Bermudans will be the Lady Jags’ biggest challenge, but he’s not worried since he believes in the ability of his team.

Guyana, more so the Lady Jags, are known as one of the most resilient teams in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and the fact that they always make it to the Caribbean qualifiers in any of the tournaments they have played, speaks volume to their quality.
However, this time around, Dr Joseph said the aim, apart from qualifying, is building a more sustainable women’s programme; one which will see the Lady Jags in regular engagements internationally at all levels.

Goalkeepers: Taylor White (Oshawa Kicks Canada), Natalie Nedd (Fruta Conquerors FC Guyana), Aneesa O’Brien (FC Durham Academy Canada).

Defenders: Sasha James (Fruta Conquerors FC Guyana), Odessa Romeo (GDF FC Guyana), Nikkita Persaud (Pickering SC Canada), Sydney Cummings (Brown University USA), Brianne DeSouza (Carleton University Canada), Alicia Zaban (Ontario Regional Canada), Allison Heydorn (Central Michigan FC USA), Collette Hope (Fruta Conquerors FC Guyana).

Midfield: Brittany Persaud (Westside Timbers USA), Mariam El-Masri (Warriors FC Singapore), Tiandi Smith (Foxy Ladies Guyana), Jade Vyfhuis (Markham SC Canada), Ghilene Joseph (Arcardi University USA), Lakeisha Pearson (Fruta Conquerors FC Guyana), Horicia Adams (Foxy Ladies Guyana), Brianne Desa (FC Durham Academy Canada), Hannah Baptiste (AFC Wimbledon England).

Forwards: Calaigh Copland (Woodbridge Strikers Canada), Ashlee Savona (Alumni FC Canada), Annalisa Vincent (Silver Sands Guyana), Cameo Hazelwood (University of Pennsylvania USA), Jalade Trim (Kwakwani Strikers Guyana), Otesha Charles (West Ham Ladies England).

After today’s game, the Lady Jags will meet rivals Suriname on May 25, before wrapping up their group E contest against Barbados. All of Guyana’s games will start at 19:30hrs.

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