WITH the Golden Jaguars set to compete in the 2016-2017 CFU Caribbean Cup in March, UK-based defender Sam Cox is anxiously anticipating a call from National team head coach Jamaal Shabazz. “It would be a great honour to represent my country again, if I were to be called up,” Cox said in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday.

The Boreham Wood club captain almost missed out on making his first appearance for Guyana after being ruled out of the first leg of their World Cup qualifier against St Vincent and the Grenadines, due to a delay in receiving his Guyanese citizenship.
But the former Tottenham Hot Spur protégé finally secured his Guyana passport and marked his international debut by winning man-of-the-match as he set up two goals in Guyana’s 4-4 home draw in the return leg at the Guyana National Stadium.
Guyana were agonisingly knocked out on away goals after a 6-6 aggregate draw but the 24-year-old was ecstatic to win his first cap and is now looking forward for another in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament.
“Last year’s experience of playing for the National team was an amazing one and although we never progressed, it was an experience I will never forget,” Cox said.
The CFU Caribbean Cup, which is scheduled to take place during officially-sanctioned FIFA international match periods giving Member Associations the opportunity to select their best possible teams, will kick off in March (21-29) with all of the countries except Haiti, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, who are all still participating in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The Golden Jaguars were drawn alongside Puerto Rico and Anguilla, in the 26-team Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament which is being sponsored by Scotiabank.
Round two of the Championship is scheduled for May and Round three in October. The 5th Place playoff will take place in November and the finals in May 2017. The top four teams will qualify to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Cox, who played at right-back for Guyana during the World Cup Qualifiers, added that he would love the opportunity to help the team progress in the Caribbean Cup.
“I feel there is a lot of good young talent on the rise within the country and the competition would be a great opportunity to showcase this. Playing for Guyana again personally is a very exciting prospect and there’s nothing I would love more than to help the team, staff and the people of Guyana to progress as a foot-balling nation,” the always smiling defender pointed out.
Neil Danns, who scored a double in Guyana’s dreadful 4-4 draw against St Vincent, along with defender Matthew Briggs, has also signalled his intention to don the colours of the Golden Jaguars if called upon by Shabazz.

By Rawle Toney