Trial squad named for Grenada qualifier
By Michael DaSilva and Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
January 24, 2004
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday named a 26-member squad to start preparation for the World Cup Qualifier against Grenada.
Guyana play their first game of the home-and-away tie on February 28, in the Spice Isle. The return game will be played here on March 14.
The 26-member squad includes three overseas-based players: Neil Hernandez, Howard Lowe and Kayode McKinnon. Lowe and McKinnon and Lowe are based in Trinidad, while Hernandez is based in Suriname.
According to GFF official Lawrence `Sparrow' Griffith, arrangements are being made to have some other overseas-based players come home for trials.
Griffith said other Trinidad and Tobago-based players: Charles Pollard, Randolph Jerome, Abassy McPherson and Cary Harris, as well as Suriname-based Richard Reynolds, Anthony Abrams and Jermaine Browne are expected to return home for the trials.
According to the former goalkeeper now FIFA assistant referee, the Trinidad-based players could not have come before for trials since they had club commitments in the Trinidad professional league.
More than half of the players selected on Thursday had stints with the national Under-23 side with the baby of the side being 17-year old Dwight Peters.
Guyana Football Federation technical director Neider Dos Santos said that the 14 Under-23 players form the nucleus of the squad which will be encamped from Monday.
Dos Santos added that Neil Hernandez, Kayode McKennon, Howard Lowe, three of four overseas based player who were available for trials were selected.
Dos Santos said that although the squad has been selected he is still willing to look at other players namely other overseas based.
The seniors are preparing for the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. Guyana play host Grenada in their opening game on February 28. The return match is scheduled for Blairmont on March 31.
The winner of the home and away tie will meet the USA.
The 26-member squad: (goal keepers) Marlon Hendricks, Andrew Durant and Fidel Smith; (full backs) Leslie Holligan, Elroy Parks, Walter Moore and Travis Waterton; (central defenders) Lowe, Orlando Gilgeous, Sherwin Cadogan, Kelvin McKenzie and Clevon Slowe; (mid-fielders) Carl Cole, Dirk Archer, Emrick Williams, McKinnon, Shawn Bishop, Hernandez, Troy Prescod, Jerome Richardson and Shawn Beavney; (strikers) Delon Glenn, Gregory Richardson, Nigel Codrington, Dwight Peters and Devon Millington.
Meanwhile, the GFF's office has been relocated to Dadanawa Street Section `K' Campbellville, two buildings away from the Bel Air Lions Club. The telephone number is 227-4110.