Match preview: Guyana vs. Jamaica

Game: Guyana vs. Jamaica

Date: Tuesday, October 11th

Time: 8:00 PM Eastern (US), 8:00 PM GYT (Guyana), 7:00 PM Jamaica

Venue: Leonora Stadium (Leonora, Guyana)

Television: None

Streaming: None

After a shock defeat to neighboring Suriname, Guyana must win in order to keep any hope of advancing to the Caribbean Cup alive – not an easy task against the defending champions. Jamaica is easily one of the top teams in CONCACAF, however a long layoff and coaching change could make their title defense that much harder.

Guyana dropped the last game 3-2 to neighboring Suriname when Galgyto Talea and Ivanildo Rozenblad scored in extra time after the sides were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes. The Philadelphia Union’s Warren Creavalle made his international debut for Guyana and according to one report, Creavalle “show(ed) signs of brilliance and on one play he dribbled three Surinamese.”

A late breaking report out of Guyana however reveals there is a row between the Guyanese players and the Guyana Football Federation over payment for matches dating back to a 2014 World Cup Qualifier. The report casts doubt on whether or not the players will play the match, although nothing concrete was announced. Hooray CONCACAF!

Jamaica’s going through a strange period. Even though players were called into camp a week ago, their initial match against Suriname was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew skirting the eastern side of the island. As of now, there still has been no makeup date scheduled by the Caribbean Football Union. To top it off, Jamaica has a new manager – sort of. It’s unclear if manager Winfried Schäfer is suspended or has been fired outright. He claims the JFF hasn’t paid him, while the JFF offered the job to former Jamaican National Team player and Cayman Islands manager Carl Brown (although Brown was reportedly “insulted” by the offer). Theodore Whitmore could be the new manager, or it could be you or me or anyone really. Hooray CONCACAF!

It will be interesting to see teammates Warren Creavalle and Andre Blake (as well as Bethlehem Steel FC’s Cory Burke) face one another on the international stage, although it will be difficult to actually see it since the game isn’t being televised or streamed.