05-14-2010
‘Lady Jags’ battle Soca Princesses for group honours today
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| TD Mark Rodrigues |
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It will be the clash of the unbeaten’s come this evening at the Marvin
Lee Stadium, Macoya, Trinidad, when the host Nation’s Soca Princesses
face off with Guyana’s ‘Lady Jags’ in the final game of Group F Gold
Cup Qualifying from18:00hrs.
Both teams have won their first two games defeating Barbados and St.
Lucia, Guyana put away the Bajans 3-0 and humiliated St. Lucia 8-0
while Trinidad hammered St. Lucia 6-1 and thumped Barbados 5-0. Guyana
is the only country to date that has not conceded a goal in this group.
This evening’s clash against Trinidad has a lot at stake apart from
bragging rights; the winner of the group will earn a spot at the
upcoming Central American & Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico - Guyana
and Trinidad & Tobago have already qualified for the final round of
Gold Cup qualifying which will feature the top two teams from group’s F
& G (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Antigua & Barbuda).
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport at the conclusion of the St. Lucia
encounter, Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation’s
Women’s programme Mark Rodrigues said that the girls are much more
relaxed having qualified for the final round.
He noted that they are also excited about facing Trinidad and Tobago this evening.
“Our girls are very excited about this game and they know that for them
to get to the World Cup they have got to be the best in the Caribbean.
So they are excited about playing Trinidad, they are looking forward to
the challenge. Trinidad as you know is the favourite and we are happy
to be coming in as the underdog.”
Rodrigues is of the firm belief that they have set the bar for the
Trinidad clash with their clinical performance against St. Lucia. “The
girls are ready and prepared for the Trinis and they are really looking
forward to this game.”
Commenting on the speed of the Twin Island girls, Rodrigues said that
perception is a big part of the game noting that they looked fast and
had a lot of speed on their opponents because they were allowed to.
“It’s going to be a great match-up between Guyana and Trinidad because
as I said athletic wise Trinidad has got speed which will be dictated
by the way we defend. We have shown that defensively we are good, we
keep improving so I think it’s going to be a great battle.”
Rodrigues offered that the difference between the two sides will be who
capitalizes on their opportunities and makes the least amount of
mistakes.
The TD made another call for corporate support for the ‘Lady Jags’.
“Like I’ve always said, don’t wait; get on board – the ‘Lady Jags’ are
real and they are doing Guyana proud. This is just the beginning; if
you don’t get in at the ground level you are going to miss out on the
greatest opportunity of your life. I know the Diaspora is getting on
board and its always better to be a leader than a follower – get on
board now.”
Team Guyana: Ashley Rodrigues (Captain), Tenyka Francique (Goalkeeper),
Alsion Heydorn, Briana De Souza, Collette Hope, Justine Rodrigues,
Kayla De Souza, Brittany Persaud, Mariam El-Masri, Daria Owen, Nikkita
Persaud, Ashlee Savona, Donna Carvalhal, Akilah Castello, Olivia
Gonsalves, Catherine Kobelka, Jordanna Phillips, Ronette Cort (Reserve
GK), Alyssa Budhoo.
Trinidad and Tobago has in their line up, 10 foreign based players
including Sweden based Professional Ahkeela Mollon, USA based Captain
Maylee Attin-Johnson, Ayana Russell, Arin King, Nadia James, Danielle
Blair, Candace Edwards, Anastacia Prescott, Janine Francois and
Dernelle Mascall.
Head Coach is Jamaal Shabazz, former Technical Director of the GFF.
This afternoon’s first game brings together Barbados and St. Lucia from
16:00hrs.
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