HINTERLAND PLAYERS HAPPY TO BE PART OF SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM
– Golden Jaguars Win Practice Match
4th October, Georgetown: The two hinterland players who are scheduled to make their debut for the Golden Jaguars in the October 7 International Friendly against Grenada are happy about their selection to the Senior Men’s National Team.
Nicolas Peters (Mabaruma, Region 1) and Frank Parks (Guyana Rush Saints FC, Region 9), were selected following their performance in the just-concluded Indigenous Heritage Games and the Charity Match involving a GFF President’s Eleven and an Indigenous All-Stars held last Sunday.
In an interview following the match and the announcement of the selection, Peters said it is a great feeling to play for the senior setup and thanked his club coach for the training: “To be selected as part of the Guyana national team is a wonderful feeling. I have always dreamt that one day I will get that bright moment, the right pace to play with the team. I’m a hard worker so I’m over-joyed. Special thanks to my coach who pushed us to be great players, taught me to play the ball defensively.”
The player who has participated in the Indigenous Heritage games for three years said he has plans of staying in the national team but “time shall tell”. While his football skills have been primarily self-taught, he developed his craft by participating in afternoon sessions and inter-village football competitions.
Meanwhile, Parks said the call-up was not surprising and also had dreams of being a Golden Jaguars member: “I feel good to be selected as part of the Guyana National team. I always dreamt of playing for the national team and playing football to my full potential as I continue pushing myself, getting further in the game and being a fitter and more aggressive player. My coach in Region 9 told us that there will be coaches looking at us during the Heritage Games and if we perform and play to our best, we may have a chance at playing for the national team.”
The two players were included even as the GFF seeks to facilitate football development in the hinterland through capacity building, talent spotting and diversifying the national teams. This last selection follows the inclusion of talented players in the youth national teams from Regions 1, 7 and 9.
The GFF has selected a 23-man squad to play Grenada at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St. James, Grenada. The team began their campaign by defeating Trinidad’s Caledonia AIA (3-0) in a practice match today at the Hasley Crawford Stadium
Scorers for the Golden Jaguars were Neil Danns, Emery Welshman and Ralph Parris
The team will depart Trinidad on the 5th October for Grenada.
For more information, please contact:
Debra Francis (Ms.)
Communications and Public Relations Officer