Guyana and Martinique are both promising an unforgettable evening of football for the people of Linden, when the two clash at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in an International Friendly on Tuesday.

The last time the two sides met, the game ended in a 2 – 2 draw in 2012. However much has changed since then for both countries, especially for Martinique.

As an overseas department of the French Republic, Martinique is not a member of FIFA and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup or any competition organised first-hand by the organisation. Martinique is, however, a member of CONCACAF and CFU and is eligible for all competitions organised by both organisations.

While Guyana, despite being a powerhouse in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), have never qualified for the Gold Cup (male version), Martinique is preparing to make their fifth appearance at the CONCACAF showpiece this year. Martinique will be placed in Group B of the 2017 Gold Cup alongside five-time champions USA, Panama, and Haiti. The French territory will play their first game against Haiti on July 8, the USA on July 12 and Panama on July 15.

The French department’s captain Kevin Parsemain who plays with Martinique’s top club Golden Lion, told Chronicle Sport that the game against Guyana is being seen as important as any other, especially since the Jean-Marc Civault-coached side is coming off a 2 – 0 defeat to Barbados on Sunday in Bridgetown.

“Those games are important because the Gold Cup is pretty much played at a high and physical level and those games in the Caribbean are important because it’s always a fight. It’s never a friendly game because everyone wants to show that they are the best side in the Caribbean so we’re coming well prepared”, Parsemain said upon his team’s arrival at the Eugene F. Correira International Airport on Monday.

Martinique will be without one of their main pieces, given the fact that the former West Ham and Real Madrid winger Julien Faubert picked up a Red Card against Barbados.

However, the team is made up of several players who ply their trade in some of the top leagues in Europe and North America. Jean-Sylvain Babin, who plays for La Liga outfit Sporting Gijón and Seattle Sounders FC’s Jordy Delem are among some of the players to look for in the French unit.

“Guyana will be good game. It’s going to be tough be it will be exciting and we’re looking forward to the challenge. A lot has changed for us from the last time we played. We’re heading to the Gold Cup and so this is an important match for us,” the Martinique skipper noted.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Samuel Cox who was once again handed the team’s captain armband, lauded the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) effort to revive the Golden Jaguars team and for also putting on the fixture against Martinique. Cox stated that his teammates have been putting in the extra work and it’s only now for them to focus on the game and walk away with a win.

Guyana’s latest win was against the US Virgin Island; crushing them 7 – 0 at the Guyana National Stadium during the CFU Caribbean Cup. Guyana, however lost to Suriname (3 – 2) in Paramaribo and 4 – 2 to the Reggae Boyz (Jamaica) at the Leonora Track and Field Centre which saw them narrowly missing out on a spot in the CONCACAF spectacle.

When asked about the team’s final selection for Tuesday’s game Gold Jaguars Head Coach Wayne Dovre declined to make a pronouncement. But Warren Creavalle, Vurlon Mills, Trayon Bobb, Brandon Beresford and Adrian Butters should be among the familiar faces for the Golden Jaguars. Kick off time is 20:00 hours. Admission $1500.