THE Golden Jaguars’ June 8 home game against Puerto Rico, in the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers, will take place in another country.
Having already faced Trinidad and Tobago, as well as The Bahamas in their quest to Qatar, Golden Jaguars are now down to face St Kitts and Nevis on June 4, and Puerto Rico on June 8.
However, with several COVID-19 international travel restrictions in place as it relates to persons coming to Guyana, Wayne Forde, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president, told Chronicle Sport yesterday that the Federation is now actively looking for a suitable and cost-efficient venue for the country’s home fixture against the Puerto Ricans.
“The main factor there is the international players; if they come here (to Guyana) they will have a difficulty going back to their respective destination because of how Guyana has been categorised, so that is one of the most challenging issue that we haven’t resolved as yet and we’re looking at all options because travel is not easy either,” Forde said.
In March, when GFF was placed in a similar position, they were forced to move their home match against The Bahamas to the Dominican Republic; a move which came at some additional cost.
The overall estimated operational figure, according to Forde, saw GFF spending a total of $27M, plus an additional US$10 000 which was paid to the Dominican Republic Football Association.
Because of the dates involved and ongoing travel challenges, Forde revealed that the GFF had to charter a flight to and from the Dominican Republic, at a cost of $12M (included in operational cost).

“To use commercial flights to get around these parts is becoming increasingly challenging so we’re still working towards confirming where that home game will be.
Even though we have made a submission to CONCACAF to play home, we had to do that because that’s what we had in hand but from all appearances, it looks like we will be playing that game outside of Guyana,” the GFF president explained.
COVID-19 protocols across the Caribbean have forced the various football associations and federations to make adjustments to their home fixture for the World Cup Qualifiers.
The CONCACAF campaign kicked off in March, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, all played their home games in other territories since FIFA permits countries to use neutral venues if they cannot play at home for a variety of reasons.
The Golden Jaguars were drawn in Group F of the Qualifier alongside Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St Kitts & Nevis.
Guyana went down 0-3 to Trinidad and Tobago, but bounced back to claim a four-nil victory over The Bahamas.
The team is currently in preparation for their encounter against table-leaders St Kitts and Nevis on June 4.