21PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde told Chronicle Sport yesterday that the Golden Jaguars could face CONCACAF powerhouse Panama in the next FIFA International break in June (3-13).
Forde had pledged to ensure that the Golden Jaguars – Guyana’s senior national football team – play on every FIFA international break. Guyana have already played Martinique in a goalless draw last Tuesday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.
Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, Forde pointed out that the GFF is in talks with several teams in CONCACAF, including Panama, Dominica and French Guiana, for possible games in June.
According to Forde, “We’re talking with a few countries but I don’t want to give out much information at this time because, like I said, we’re still working on them. As soon as we (the GFF) have something confirmed and solid, we will make that announcement.”
Forde said that the move is in keeping with a promise made upon taking office to revive the Golden Jaguars brand, to market it to the point where they could attract some of the top teams within the region and further afield.
In 2012, at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, a team captained by now Jaguars assistant coach Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, fell 2-0 to Panama.
Guyana and Dominica have faced each other five times with the Golden Jaguars winning four of those encounters and drawing nil in their last meeting which was during the 2014 Caribbean Cup.
Both French Guiana and Panama will feature in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with the French Department falling in Group A alongside Costa Rica, Canada and Honduras. Panama will face Martinique, the USA and Nicaragua in Group B.
Meanwhile, the GFF president did not state if those games will be played in Guyana or at home of the opposition.