…. Minister Ramson pledges government support 

By Rawle Toney

GUYANA will kick off their 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifier campaign against rivals Trinidad and Tobago on October 8.

The Golden Jaguars were drawn in Group F in the CONCACAF zone of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifier alongside the Twin Island Republic, St Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas.

After their clash with the ‘Trinis’, the Golden Jaguars will return home to roar against The Bahamas on Tuesday October 13.

On November 13, Guyana will travel to St Kitts and Nevis for their third game and then host Puerto Rico.

The first round will be played in a single round-robin format, meaning each team will play four matches; two home and two away, during the FIFA International match window.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, joined president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde and his staff at their secretariat to witness the Draw which was done live at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, conducted by FIFA’s Director of Tournaments and Interim Competitions, Jaime Yarza, with the assistance of CONCACAF Legends Shaun Goater (Bermuda) and David Suazo (Honduras).

Asked about the draw, Forde said Guyana are in a competitive group, while calling for corporate and governmental support.

“We know this will not be an easy campaign but we’re up to this task. We have a few weeks; if the October window remains open, we have a few weeks to prepare. We’re trusting that the COVID-19 situation will be brought under control and we can get our national team back into training. We take this opportunity to ask our stakeholders, corporate Guyana, Government of Guyana – once we complete our preparation plan – to come on board and give us all the support that they can,” Forde added.

Meanwhile, Minister Ramson said Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government of Guyana wants “to be able to promote football in Guyana as part of the Government’s programme, working in a collaborative way.”

“Sport is important to the President of Guyana, sport is important to me and we don’t only want to say it, we want to show it and that’s why I wanted to make the time to be here with you when Guyana is being drawn and to know where they are going to play,” Ramson said.

The Sport Minister told the GFF, “You can expect hearing from me just as much as I expect to hear from you and, as much as we can do; you can expect that as well. There are a lot of things we’re facing at the moment but we are willing to explore innovative ways for partnership; we will work in a collaborative way, once the objective is to showcase Guyanese talent and develop Guyanese talent.”

The Golden Jaguars’ best run in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers came during the run-up to the 2014 tournament in Brazil, where they had reached the penultimate round of the CONCACAF zone.

It was during that run they had a memorable showing against Trinidad and Tobago on November 11, 2011 at the Guyana National Stadium where Guyana had won 2-1, thanks to goals from Ricky Shakes and former English Premier League player Leon Cort.

Guyana only played Puerto Rico twice at the senior level internationally, with the US territory winning 2-0 in 1993, and Golden Jaguars, with a goal from defender King Solomon Austin,, winning 1-0.

The clash against St Kitts and Nevis will mark the third meeting for Guyana, but it will also be the first time the two countries are meeting during a World Cup qualification tournament.