… Team set for two-day camp in Trinidad and Tobago

GREGORY ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, considered by many as one of the best forwards of his generation, was included in coach Wayne Dover’s 28-man provisional squad for a friendly international against Grenada on October 7 in St George’s, at the Kirani James National Stadium .
Not since Guyana’s 1-0 win over Puerto Rico in March of 2016, has Richardson featured for Guyana, although the ‘Golden Jaguars’ played six times after their game at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in San Juan.
The squad consists of four goalkeepers, seven defenders, 13 midfielders and three forwards, consisting of players from, among others, Silver Shattas Football Club (FC), Den Amstel FC, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC, Milerock FC, Santos FC and Western Tigers FC.
Speaking on the shortlisted squad, Dover pointed out that “there is a large group of young players in the squad who earned their call-up from performances in the Corona Beer Cup and Mayor’s Cup. The other players who make up the squad are players who are part of the senior national pool. Training will be done three days per week and will focus on aerobics, aerobic endurance, anaerobic and strength.”
According to Dover, a shortlist of the local squad will be done prior to departure and they will be joined by the selected international players.
“At the end of these sessions, the technical staff will select the best players as well as the best overseas-based players to shortlist a final 18-man squad for the upcoming game.”
The squad is scheduled to depart for Trinidad and Tobago for a two-day encampment before leaving for Grenada on October 5.
Other members of the technical staff include Rawle Adams –team manager; Charles Pollard – assistant coach; Linden France – physical trainer; Eon De Veira – goalkeeper coach and Denzil Hernandez – physiotherapist.
Bryan Joseph, head coach of the National U-15 male team, will assist with training in the absence of Pollard who will join the squad in Trinidad.
The last time Guyana played Grenada, it was a bitter-sweet moment for both the Golden Jaguars supporters and players.
Pernel Schultz had led Guyana to a 2-0 victory over Grenada on March 29, 2015 at the Guyana National Stadium, scoring both goals in the first half, but FIFA declared it a loss by forfeit for Guyana (3-0), citing articles of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
The GFF was fined 4 000 Swiss francs (G$859 000) for playing Matthew Briggs, after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee had conducted an investigation in the England-based player’s participation in an International ‘A’ friendly match.
According to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, “The GFF is liable for the violation of Article 5 of the Regulations governing the Application of the Statutes as well as Article 55.2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code for having fielded the player Matthew Briggs without holding Guyanese nationality.”
Briggs, 26, the youngest player to feature in the English Premier League (EPL) with Fulham FC, who qualified to represent Guyana through his grandmother, had represented England at the U-16 through U-21 levels but never broke into the country’s senior national side.
The squad: (goalkeepers) Richie Richards, Alex Murray, Johnathan Copeland, Kellon Major. (defenders) Jeremey Garrett, Jamaine Cummberbatch, Delroy Ferdinand, Travis Henry, Cecil Jackman, Shomol Smith, Solomon Austin. (midfielders) Curtez Kelman, William Europe, Ryan Dowding, Denzil Fordyce, Delwyn Fraser, Eusi Phillips, Anthony Benfield, Eon Alleyne, Ryan Hackett, Delon Wrights, Jamal Pedro, Darren Benjamin, Dwyane McLennon, Jamal Haynes. (forwards) Gregory Richardson, Shane Haynes and Randolph Wagner.