Guyana Sports Development Foundation, Inc

Captain Ashley Rodrigues, Gold Cup leading goal scorer Alison Heydorn (5) and stalwart defender Briana DeSouza lead Team Guyana against Cuba in Guyana on July 3^.

- The first leg of the double header is slated for June 26^th in Cuba

The Guyana Women's National  Football team, known as the "Lady Jags" will face Cuba in Guyana on July 3^rd, in the home game of their home and away matchup to determine the 8^th and final spot for the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals. The other teams already qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup are USA, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti.

One week before, the Lady Jags will travel to Cuba for the away game to be played on June 26^th.

The Lady Jags won Stage I of group play in Guyana last March, when they defeated Suriname and St. Vincent.

In Stage II the Lady Jags finished in the runner-up position after defeating St. Lucia and Barbados, while incurring their first International loss to Trinidad & Tobago.

Program Director, Colin Baker in an invited comment said:  "I am very excited about the Cuba games. A few weeks ago I mentioned that Group II held in Trinidad was a very defining week for the Lady Jags. We were successful then by qualifying for the Central American and Caribbean Games and this round of Gold Cup qualifying. It is now a very defining game for the Lady Jags.  I am very confident that we will overcome Cuba as well and qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals to be held late October in Cancun, Mexico. I appeal to all Guyana to come out in support of their Lady Jags".

Technical Director -  Mark Rodrigues had this to say:

The Lady Jags have already made Guyana Women's football a household name throughout North America, the Caribbean and Central America.  It is with great pride that I lead these amazing young ladies and our great country even further in our quest to qualify for the Gold Cup and the World Cup. The excitement and pride that we have created in Guyanese worldwide is unparalleled, and we will strive to continue growing and building this National pride when we take on Cuba in the coming weeks. We need all Guyanese to get on board and support us on July 3^rd, and I am appealing once again to all Guyanese and corporate Guyana to support us. This is more than just a game of football, this is about the future for kids in Guyana.

The Lady Jags look to continue their dream run since June of 2009, winning seven (7) of their eight (8)  international games to date.

The following 18 players have been shortlisted for the Cuba games: Tenyka Francique, Ronnette Cort, Shondel Archer, Briana DeSouza, Daria Owen, Nikkita Persaud, Collette Hope, Donna Carvalhal, Mariam El-Masri, Ashlee Savona, Katherine Kobelka, Brittany Persaud, Justine Rodrigues, Kayla DeSouza, Jordhanna Phillips, Alison Heydorn, Olivia Gonsalves,  Ashley Rodrigues (Captain).