Hyland, Garcia expect tough contest against Guyana

TT footballers Khaleem Hyland and Levi Garcia expect a tough clash against Guyana in the opening round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the Dominican Republic, on Thursday, from 7 pm.

One of the TT players tested positive for covid19 according to a TT Football Association media release on Wednesday, but the match is still scheduled to be played.

Hyland said, “It will be a difficult game. It is the first game in the World Cup qualifiers.”

He added, “They have a lot of players from the lower leagues in Europe and they are a team that are trying to come on the level that TT is and rub shoulders with TT and we know we have a tough clash tomorrow (Thursday).”

On the team’s strategy, Hyland said, “We don’t want to give out any tips, but we need to focus for 90 plus minutes. We need to do what we good at and have confidence and belief in ourselves and help each other to build from tomorrow’s game on towards the second game (on Sunday).”

TT will play Puerto Rico on Sunday in Puerto Rico.

Garcia is anticipating the match. “Really excited. It has been a while and I really want to deliver and most importantly try to get as many victories as possible.”

Garcia added, “There is no easy game. As a team, we are really trying to gel together, deliver what the coach (Terry Fenwick) is trying to implement and hopefully we could get it together tomorrow and get a victory.”

Coach of the Guyana football team Marcio Maximo has commended the commitment of his players heading into the contest.

In a zoom interview with journalists from Guyana, Maximo said, “We are very happy with the commitment that we see here from all members of staff and the players. Football is an unpredictable game, but when you have commitment like that day by day...it gives us more confidence.”

Guyana captain Sam Cox said, “Preparations have been really good. The boys have applied themselves fantastically during camp. It has been an intense couple of days I must admit from when we arrived on the 17th, 18th.”

Cox added, “We have hit the ground running especially those first couple days getting acclimatize to the environment. The international boys integrating with the local players was something that seemingly happened easily to be honest.

“It was like we had not left even though it has been over a year since we last played. The connection between all of us has been brilliant, so we are doing everything we can and we are all looking forward and excited for the game tomorrow.”