FORMER national captain Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard has returned to the Golden Jaguars training camp, after they had a successful Caribbean and French Guiana tour. The Guyana national team is in preparation for the CONCACAF zone qualifiers against Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico commencing June 8, even as a local experienced squad will enter the Parbo Bier Cup tournament which will see Suri Pro, Surinam and Vitesse of the Netherlands in Suriname next week.
Pollard who has been playing in the Trinidad Pro League and was a member of the 11.11.11 team which defeated Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors at the Providence National Stadium was seen at last Monday’s training session.
As the players and leader very optimistic regarding the progression and development of Guyana’s football pollard is expected to bring stability and experience to the young and season players which he had led for a number of years.
The Guyanese, who will field a local lineup in the Parbo Bier, will be aiming for good results and will see more of the local senior players who will be looking to give a favorable account of themselves.
The squad commenced its final set of training at the Providence National Stadium under the watchful eyes of Technical Director in Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz, who is supported by a strong band of coaches both for the World Cup and Parbo Bier Cup tournament.
The technical staff includes Coaches Wayne Dover, Joseph Wilson, Ivan Persaud and Sampson Gilbert with managers Rawle Adams and Mark Xavier, Equipment Officer Trevor Burnett and Goalkeeper coach Andrew Hazel.
Dover, the local head coach explained that this will be Guyana’s third time of participation in the tournament, with the first being in 2007 under his leadership which saw Guyana winning against French Guiana and losing to the Dutch pro team and the Surinam Under-20 squad.
He noted that the second participation under head coach Paul James had a poor performance, losing all of their matches.
Dover indicated that outside of the exposure the team will be focusing on good performance and results as the nucleus of the squad will come from the Under-20 and 23 and Super League tournaments.
He noted that young Colin Edwards, who had a successful performance in the Caribbean tour within the uprights, will be supported in defence by Michael and Ryan Crandon, Denvor Dennis and Chris Camacho.
The midfield position will see a number of new blending with some who has shown great improvements in Anthony Benfield, Travis Grant, Calvin Shepherd, William Europe and Philbert Mophatt, while young Pernell Schultz, Daniel Wilson, Jamaal Booker, Eon Alleyne and Brion Baker will make the lineup for the tournament, which was won by Suri Pro in 2007, 2009.