… Guyana still without a win
(From Ras Abdalla  in Suriname with the compliments of JW Potter Co. (Guy) Ltd, Bryden and Bryden, Lens Craft Opticals and King of Kings)
THE action in the Caribbean Football Union ( CFU) U-20 World Cup Group competition is expected to intensify when the final two matches are staged in Paramaribo later today. Three of the four teams go into today’s final day of competition with a realistic chance of securing the final spot for Caribbean teams at the April CONCACAF finals in Guatemala
The feature game of the double-header to be played at the Franklin Essed Stadium could well be the determining factor, though a Netherlands Antilles’ thrashing of Guyana by at least a four-nil margin could see them steal the spot, providing Bermuda beat Suriname 1-0.
It would mean that all three sides ended with two wins and a loss so that the team with the best goal difference will prevail.
Both Bermuda and Suriname have four goals for and two against, with a goal difference of plus two, while the Netherlands Antilles have three goals for and three against for a zero goal difference. Guyana with a solitary goal and five against from two defeats are out of contention.
The Guyanese will, however, be aiming to end their dismal showing and exit with a win, but their opponents today have shown brilliant individual skills and seems very much at home on the artificial turf.
Guyana’s head coach, Collie Hercules has promised another improved performance today and is confident of the lads doing well against the Netherlands Antilles.
A lethargic-looking Guyana unit meekly surrendered 3-0 to Bermuda last Wednesday, but two days later produced a spirited effort to lose by the odd goal in three to old rivals, Suriname.
The Guyanese will welcome back to the starting line-up, central defender Ryan Crandon who had to sit out the last game after collecting two yellow cards in the first game.
His physical strength and presence will undoubtedly boost the defence and side, but he would have to control his usual aggression against the pacy and skilful Antilleans.
Coach Hercules should also look to his bench and put together a more creative and productive midfield if he is serious about success.
US-based Brandon Beresford has been a huge disappointment with his hurried passes which are more often over-weighed and cause the attack to break down. Charles Critchlow is serving little purpose, if any, in the defensive midfield as he lacks the technical skills of control and passing.
The main central midfielder should be Colin Nelson, the most gifted and talented of the squad and is being wasted in central defence.
There is nothing to lose now that the fate of the team has already been decided. Forward Telson McKinnon deserves a start ahead of Olvis Mitchell who continues to show his limitations. What has become of Marco Marcos who featured prominently in the first round group stage in Guyana last October?
For Guyana to come out victorious today, there first must be changes to the starting line-up and their confidence in controlling and passing the ball must improve a lot. The task is not beyond them as the Netherlands have shown a weakness in defence. Their performance to date is purely reflective of an unprepared side.
The Bermuda-Suriname match-up should be exciting, with the home side only needing a draw while the Bermudans must win. Coached by Scotsman Derek Broadley the Bermudans have looked a solid all-round team with controlled ball possession and movement.
Captain Reginald Thompson-Lambe, who plays in England with Ipswich Town, is one of five overseas-based pros in the team and he engineeers the midfield manfully with main support from Troy Tucker and Casey Castle.
On the other half of the field the home boys will be pinning most hopes on senior national forward Stefano Rijssel who is the top scorer so far with three goals.
In tandem with the dreadlocked Dania Afiankoi in attack they are a handful and a torment for any defence.
The big Olvidio Misidang and ice-cool Kevin Martin of Javanese decent, will marshal the midfield. The two sides also possess the best custodians, with Firgillio Lamsberg for Suriname and Taj-Michael Bell for Bermuda. How well the two big men protect their respective citadels could well determine the outcome of the game. The first match will kick off at 16:30 h.