THE Guyana women’s national football team will face Cuba on June 26 in Cuba as they try to secure a spot in the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.
According to a release, the return match in the home and away tie is scheduled for Guyana on July 3.
Already, USA, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti have qualified for the final eight, so the Lady Jaguars will be determined to secure their spot in the final eight. The local lasses won Stage One of group play in Guyana last March, by defeating Suriname and St Vincent.
In Stage Two, the Lady Jags finished in the runner-up position after defeating St Lucia and Barbados, while incurring their first International loss to Trinidad & Tobago.
The team’s Programme Director Colin Baker in an invited comment said:  “I am very excited about the Cuba games. A few weeks ago I mentioned that Group Two held in Trinidad was a very defining week for the Lady Jags. We were successful then by qualifying for the Central American and Caribbean Games and this round of Gold Cup qualifying.
“It’s now a very defining game for the Lady Jags. I am very confident that we will overcome Cuba as well and qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals to be held late October in Cancun, Mexico. I appeal to all Guyana to come out in support of their Lady Jags.”
According to the release, Technical Director Mark Rodrigues said the Lady Jags have already made Guyana Women’s football a household name throughout North America, the Caribbean and Central America and it is with great pride that he is leading some amazing young ladies and our great country (Guyana) even further in our quest to qualify for the Gold Cup and the World Cup.
“The excitement and pride that we have created in Guyanese worldwide is unparalleled, and we will strive to continue growing and building this national pride when we take on Cuba in the coming weeks,” the release quoted Rodrigues as saying.
It added: “We need all Guyanese to get on board and support us on July 3, and I am appealing once again to all Guyanese and corporate Guyana to support us. This is more than just a game of football; this is about the future for kids in Guyana.”
Meanwhile, the following 18 players have been shortlisted for the Cuba games: Tenyka Francique, Ronnette Cort, Shondel Archer, Briana DeSouza, Daria Owen, Nikkita Persaud, Collette Hope, Donna Carvalhal, Mariam El-Masri, Ashlee Savona, Katherine Kobelka, Brittany Persaud, Justine Rodrigues, Kayla DeSouza, Jordhanna Phillips, Alison Heydorn, Olivia Gonsalves,  Ashley Rodrigues (captain). Heydorn is the tournament’s leading goalscorer with five goals to her name.