GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

GUYANA have resumed training ahead of their crucial World Cup Qualifier (WCQ) against Mexico and in preparation for the 2012 Caribbean Football Union Cup.

The first sessions throughout this week, represent the first phase and will focus mainly on fitness enhancement and player assessment based on a conditioning plan setup by the team's Brazilian trainer Americo Falopa.

However, national assistant coach Wayne Dover is supervising the training in the absence of national coach Jamaal Shabazz.

Shabazz has commitments with his Trinidad and Tobago club Caledonia AIA, which plays Honduras team Marathon in the CONCACAF Champions League this week.

Also, a number of foreign-based players, especially from Europe and North America, will be unavailable to attend training due to club engagements.

The Guyana Football Federation says an 18-man squad will be involved in the training, including striker Anthony Abrams, midfielder Konata Mannings and wingers Dwight Peters and Dwain Jacobs.

The Golden Jaguars' chances of advancing further into the FIFA 2014 World Cup suffered a crushing blow earlier this month.

The Guyanese lost their second WCQ to El Salvador after drawing the first leg of the two-match series.

Third in group B

Guyana are currently third in Group B standings and need to beat Mexico on October 12th to keep alive their chances.

The Guyana footballers also have a keen eye on the Caribbean Football Union Cup.

They have been placed in Group Two and will face hosts St.Lucia, Curacao and St.Vincent and the Grenadines from October 21-25.

Twenty-five teams have entered the qualification process for the Caribbean Championship, competing for a total of eight spots in the Final tournament.