…Head Coach Maximo names surprise squad for remaining World Cup qualifiers

THERE was no place for Captain Sam Cox, defender Kadell Daniel and forward Callum Harriott in Head Coach Marcio Maximo squad for the Golden Jaguars’ remaining two group-stage matches in the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
In all, there have been six changes to Guyana’s 23-man roster for their clash against St Kitts and Nevis (June 4) and Puerto Rico (June 8); both matches will take place in St Kitts and Nevis.
Harriott’s omission will raise some eyebrows, especially taking into consideration his season for Colchester United. Also, concerns, or rather questions will be asked about the non-selection of Cox, who captained the team in their last engagements in the Dominican Republic.
However, the team will see a return of Duke-McKenna, Kevin Layne and Liam Gordon and handed first-time call-ups to three U-20 national players.
“My job is very clear; to qualify for the second round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers,” Coach Maximo said, according to a release from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).
“I am confident in the players and the squad to deliver this,” said Maximo, the former Brazil U17 and U20 national coach,” Maximo said.

“The domestic group has been working very hard in our intensive training, and we are constantly tracking the performances of our non-domestic players. The aim for the non-domestic group is to raise the quality of the team by selecting players who are in full-time professional environments, such as Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Bournemouth and Bolton in England,” he said
Duke-McKenna, the flashy 20-year-old mid-field player made his first team debut for English Football League Championship side, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) this year.
Layne, 23, has recently signed for Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant Academy, joining Golden Jaguars goalkeeper Akel Clarke in the island’s top flight.
Bolton Wanderers full back Gordon, 22, has impressed on loan at fifth tier Dagenham and Redbridge.Javier George who plays in midfield for Stade Beaucairois in the French fifth tier, Santos midfielder Marcus Wilson and Guyana Police Force forward Osafa Simpson have already made their mark at international level as part of the recent Guyana U-20 squad.
English Premier League’s Watford defender Bayli Spencer-Adams, 19, and Bournemouth midfielder Nathan Moriah-Welsh, 19, re-joined the squad following their international debuts in March, alongside 17-year-old Fruta Conquerors forward Omari Glasgow, who scored in a memorable debut against the Bahamas in March

“We know that Guyana’s chances of qualification to round two rely on results elsewhere, but the GFF is confident that this new-look squad with its strong mix of exciting domestic and overseas-based talent, will put serious pressure on the other teams as we head into the business end of the group,” said GFF president Wayne Forde.
Forde said he’s “delighted to see so many young players, who have graduated through the GFF’s Academy Training Centres and national youth programmes, making the grade and showing they can compete at the highest level as we build for the future. We ask the whole nation to stand up and roar with the Golden Jaguars in June as they seek to make Guyana proud and keep our FIFA World Cup dream alive.” After two matches, Guyana lies in third place in Group F of the first round of Concacaf’s FIFA World Cup qualification process behind Trinidad and Tobago and group leaders Saint Kitts and Nevis. Having lost 0 – 3 to the Soca Warriors, and claiming a 4 – 0 victory of The Bahamas in their opening matches, the Golden Jaguars must hope those teams slip-up in the concluding group matches to secure the top spot in the group and progress to round two.
Guyana will play St Kitts and Nevis at 4:00pm on June 4 and Puerto Rico at 4:00pm on June 8.

Full Guyana squad below
GOALKEEPERS: Akel Clarke (Mount Pleasant Academy), Kai McKenzie-Lyle (Cambridge United FC) Shawn Adonis (GPF FC).

DEFENDERS: Miguel Scarlett (Colchester United), Matthew Briggs (Vijle Boldk FC), Liam Gordon (Bolton Wanderers), Terence Vancooten (Stevenage FC), Nicholai Andrews (Santos FC), Bayli Spencer-Adams (Watford FC), Kevin Layne (Mount Pleasant Academy), Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Bournemouth FC).
MIDFIELD: Javier George (Stade Beaucairois), Daniel Wilson (GPF FC), Jobe Caesar (GDF FC), Marcus Wilson (Santos FC), Pernell Schultz (GPF FC).
FORWARDS: Stephen Duke-McKenna (Queens Park Rangers), Keanu Marsh-Brown (Wrexham AFC), Omani Glasgow (Fruta Conquerors), Kelsey Benjamin (GDF FC), Osafa Simpson (GPF FC), Trayon Bobb (Uitvlugt Warriors), Emery Welshman (Hapoel Raanana).