Players have to earn Caribbean Cup selection, warns Guyana skipper
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Guyana captain Chris Nurse has warned there will no guaranteed places on the national squad as preparation begins for the CFU Caribbean Cup.
The Golden Jaguars — as the Guyana senior squad is referred to — have been drawn in Group Five for the opening round alongside Puerto Rico and Anguilla.
Nurse said places on the squad would be determined purely on merit and not past performances or status.
“No one’s place is guaranteed. That is the pressure and environment necessary for success,” Nurse told the
Chronicle newspaper.
“It does not matter where you play, when you arrive. With the national team it’s a level playing field and the coaches I am sure will select the best squad, with the best dynamics to be successful come March 21.”
The Caribbean Football Union, the governing body for football in the region, staged the draw for the 2016/17 Caribbean Cup in St John’s two weeks ago.
Round one of the tournament is scheduled for March 21-29 with round two set for May 15-21. Seven groups of three teams will contest the opening round with the two top teams advancing to the next round.
St Vincent and the Grenadines were handed a first-round bye and will join the teams advancing to the second round.
Nurse, who has racked up 47 caps since debuting for Jaguars eight years ago, said the current form of players would play a pivotal role in selection.
“Something that will be taken into consideration is the form of players. A lot of the teams are at different stages in their season right now,” the England-born midfielder said.
“For some, it is mid-season, for others it is pre-season. That is something the coaches will consider when selecting the best 11 to play the game.”
French Caribbean side Haiti, champions Jamaica and last time losing finalists, Trinidad and Tobago, will also be absent from the first round.
Round One Groups
Group 1 — Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Aruba.
Group 2 — Grenada, St Maarten, United States Virgin Islands.
Group 3 — Cuba, Bermuda, French Guiana.
Group 4 — Barbados, Curacao, the Dominican Republic.
Group 5 — Guyana, Puerto Rico, Anguilla.
Group 6 — Guadeloupe, St Martin, Suriname.
Group 7 — Martinique, British Virgin Islands, Dominica.
