'Awo' Abrams in team to face Grenada tomorrow
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
February 27, 2004
Striker Anthony `Awo' Abrams received his first senior national cap, when he was included in an 18-man team which departed for Grenada yesterday evening.
Abrams, goalkeeper Andrew Durant and defender Abassy McPherson are the new faces in the team which defeated Barbados recently.
Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director Neider Dos Santos explained that Durant was pulled into the team after first-choice keeper Richard Reynolds sustained an injury to his hand, which has sidelined him from the first round of the tournament.
McPherson has replaced Clevon Slowe and Abrams took the place of Shawn Bishop. The three along with the other members, form a strong force, Dos Santos said. "Our team is very strong. The distance between the starters and the reserves is almost nil. We have a very good group."
The senior side is made up of several Under-23 and overseas- based players.
Mid-fielder Shawn `Bubbley' Beveney has been retained as captain of the team.
Dos Santos disclosed that his charges have improved since the 2-0 defeat of Barbados and should give a good account of themselves against Grenada tomorrow. The national side won both of its warm-up matches, beating a GFL XI 2-0 in the first.
"I think that we are very okay right now.
There has been much improvement since last week," Dos Santos said. However, he warned against complacency and overconfidence.
"It does not mean that because we defeated Barbados easily and Barbados defeated Grenada twice recently, that we are going to beat Grenada. Football does not work like that," Dos Santos cautioned.
Guyana will have its final practice session this evening at the national stadium in Grenada. "It will only be a light work out," Dos Santos said.
Guyana takes on Grenada tomorrow in the first game of a home-and-away tie in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier. The return game is scheduled for March 14 at the Blairmont ground. The winner of the tie will meet the USA in the next round.
The team is: Marlon Hendricks, Andrew Durant, Orville Bobb, Orlando Gilgeous, Howard Lowe, Walter Moore, Dirk Archer, Shawn Beveney, Neil Hernandez, Kayode McKinnon, Gregory Richardson, Randolph Jerome, Travis Waterton, Abassy McPherson, Jerome Richardson, Troy Prescod, Cary Harris and Anthony Abrams.
The manager is Lennox Graham, trainer is Robin Phillips, the coach is Wayne Dover and the goalkeeping coach is Roy Ridley.