…….next stop T&T
GUYANA maintained a perfect record at the conclusion of the Group ‘C’ Digicel Caribbean Cup preliminary competition played in Paramaraibo, Suriname. In their third and final outing played on Sunday night at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium the Guyanese scored a goal in each half to silence the Dutch fans and emerge unbeaten winner of the four team group. In the game that preceded, the other two sides of the group, St Lucia and the Netherlands Antiiles drew 2-2.
The game started out very aggressively as both sides attacked each other and inside the first twenty minutes 6 Yellow cards were issued, while Guyana led by a Penalty converted by midfielder, Walter Moore in the 18th minute. The play resulted from a brilliant run at the defense by midfielder Dwain Jacobs who was brought down in the area after easily going by two defenders.
In the second period the home-side came out in search of the equalizer but the Guyanese were stout in defence and poor in finishing the several chances created. Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams who was the main sinner was eventually substituted with Devon Millington who sealed the game in the first minute of three minutes added at the end of regulation time.
The speedy and nippy Millington came on and immediately took on the Dutch defense. In one such move he unlocked the defense, got a glimpse at goal and fired from just at the top of the box for the sealer.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport shortly after returning home yesterday, Coach Wayne Dover expressed the team’s delight, ‘The team is very excited about coming to Suriname and winning the group.
It was our goal before the competition to win all three games and this we have done and I am proud of our achievement. It was a great team effort, everyone played their part.  In the final game we played outstandingly, but I must admit that Suriname was a worthy opponent.”
“It is my intention to resume training this coming Friday. We must maximise our limited time available in order to have more success in the next stage set for T&T,” Dover informed.
Guyana will join Haiti, St Vincent &the Grenadines and host T&T in the next group competition to determine the two teams to advance to the Digicel Caribbean Cup finals set for Martinique later this year. Guyana will open against Haiti on November 2nd , T&T on the 4th and St Vincent on the 6th.
Guyana’s JP Rodrigues will be out of the opening game on November 2nd after picking up two Yellow Cards in Paramaraibo.
Meanwhile Coach Dover says he is not worried about the strong opposition in the next stage, “We are in a group with two teams that went to the World Cup finals and one that beat us at the last Digi Cup finals we played in 2007. We will be ready to go out and execute on game day and that is what matters.
My only concern is with the local players who are always falling short in fitness despite being given a program to work with when not in camp”.