MICHAEL Johnson, head coach of Guyana’s senior Men’s National team, the Golden Jaguars, believes that he has selected a strong, balanced and talented squad to face French Guiana on November 20, in the capital Cayenne of the French-speaking South American country.

Dagenham & Redbridge’s Elliot Bonds has received his first call-up to the Golden Jaguars, as Walter Moore, Colin Nelson and Marcel Barrington will make a return for the CONCACAF Nations League.

Johnson has named a 21-man squad, bringing together players based at clubs in Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, England, the United States, Finland and Portugal. The squad will commence encampment for the fixture today in Suriname.

“This is a crucial match for the Golden Jaguars in our bid to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in Guyana’s footballing history. We are taking a strong, balanced and talented squad with a great blend of local players and those plying their trade overseas,” said head coach Johnson. “We are all 110% focused on making Guyanese fans proud in Cayenne next week.”

The 18-year-old midfielder Bonds plays in England’s National League – the fifth tier of English football. The squad includes US-based striker Emery Welshman, whose FC Cincinnati team will play Major League Soccer in 2019.
Neil Danns, Marcel Barrington and Colin Nelson return after missing out on the CONCACAF Nations League contest against Barbados in September.

Guyana currently lie 11th in the CONCACAF Nations League qualification table, with four points from two games. French Guiana are in 16th place.

The top 10 will qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while the top six will qualify for CONCACAF Nations League A alongside the United States, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras. Teams placed 7th to 22nd will compete in Concacaf Nations League B.

Guyana’s final qualification match will be played against Belize at Leonora Stadium on March 23, 2019.

Goalkeepers: Kai McKenzie-Lyle and Akel Clarke.

Defenders: Terence Vancooten, Sam Cox, Kevin Layne, Kevin Dundas, Jake Newton, Walter Moore, Colin Nelson and Ronayne Marsh-Brown.

Midfielders: Neil Danns, Elliot Bonds, Brandon Beresford, Anthony Benfield, Daniel Wilson and Stephen Duke-McKenna.

Forwards: Emery Welshman, Marcel Barrington, Trayon Bobb, Kadell Daniel and Sheldon Holder.