GUYANA’S beach football team, known as the Red Jaguars, placed a creditable third in the just concluded Bago Sports Beach Soccer Championships (BSBSC) recently played at the Turtle Beach Heritage Park, Black Rock, Tobago from November 2 to 4. After being drawn into Group ‘B’, which was also called the group of death alongside USA, Switzerland and their nemesis Bago Sports Beach Football Club (BSBFC), whom the Red Jaguars hosted in a three-match goodwill series earlier this year, and also played in their first encounter on Saturday, suffered a 4-0 loss.
The Guyanese rebounded in their next match to defeat Switzerland 6-4, with captain Jermaine Grandison leading the way with two goals, while Deshawn Joseph, Michael Wilson, Ralph Alexander and Marmalique Davidson added one each.
On Sunday, the Red Jaguars met and whipped their USA opponents 10-2, with Ron Fiedtkou finding the back of the net four times, and received support from Joseph, Grandison and Wilson who netted a brace each.
Following a walkover from Lambeau Football Club, the Red Jaguars were declared the group winners while at the same time setting up an intriguing clash with the self-acclaimed Caribbean Beach Football Kings Jamaica, who were using the tournament as preparations for their upcoming CONCACAF Beach World Cup qualifiers in January.
The Red Jaguars matched the Jamaicans in every department but for some poor officiating by the American referees and lack of concentration, ended up with a 6-3 defeat and later in the evening grounded out a 4-4 top claim third place.
The tournament was won by the skilful Brazilians who scored a total of 40 goals while conceding 6 on their way to claiming the US$15 000 top prize and the lion’s share of the individual awards to conclude a memorable tournament.