Ahead of the much anticipated CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier Tournament set for February in Texas, Guyana’s national women’s team better known as the Lady Jags are currently encamped in Toronto, Canada.
Guyana were placed in Group B of the tournament, along with Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala, while World Champions USA head the so-called ‘Group of Death’ that also includes rivals Mexico, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.
The Lady Jags will play their first game of the tournament against Canada on February 11 at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Texas, United States.
Head Coach Mark Rodrigues will be aided by assistant Clement Browne, Goalkeeping Coach Richard Reynolds and Technical Director Claude Bolton in Toronto in hopes of getting the Lady Jags in the best shape possible for the tournament.
According to Rodrigues, via a press release, “the girls quickly responded to playing together again and gelling as a unit”.
Rodrigues highlighted that the new players in the team “fitted in well” and he was hoping that the coaching staff “achieved what we needed in terms of tactics. Each day will be an advancement on the prior day’s sessions”.
It will be only the second meeting between Guyana and Canada with the first being at the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The World Cup champions USA will face Costa Rica to open the eight-team CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The United States has won the past three tournaments that determine the Olympic representatives from CONCACAF, and went on to win the gold medal in the last three Olympics. The top two finishers earn Olympic berths.
THE SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, February 10 – Toyota Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Puerto Rico vs Mexico; 8:30pm (7:30pm) USA vs Costa Rica
Thursday, February 11 – BBVA Compass Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Guatemala vs Trinidad & Tobago; 8:30 pm (7:30pm) Canada vs Guyana
Saturday, February 13 – Toyota Stadium 1:30 pm (12:30 pm) Costa Rica vs Puerto Rico; 4 pm (3 pm) Mexico vs USA
Sunday, February 14 – BBVA Compass Stadium 1:30 pm (12:30 pm) Guyana vs Guatemala; 4 pm (3 pm) Trinidad & Tobago vs Canada
Monday, February 15 – Toyota Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Mexico vs Costa Rica; 8:30 pm (7:30 pm) USA vs Puerto Rico
Tuesday, February 16 – BBVA Compass Stadium 6 pm (5 pm) Trinidad & Tobago vs Guyana; 8:30 pm (7:30 pm) Canada vs Guatemala
Friday, February 19 – BBVA Compass Stadium 5:30 pm (4:30 pm) 1B vs 2A; 8:30 pm (7:30 pm) 1A vs 2B
Sunday, February 21 – BBVA Compass Stadium 5 pm (4 pm) Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
Encamped in Toronto in winter, in january.Why not somewhere a little warmer.? Strange tactical choice.Cost must have played a major role in that decision