Brackenridge enjoys good start with Golden Jaguars
Published:Sunday | November 17, 2024 | 12:11 AMOrane Buchanan - Staff Reporter
WHILE JAMAICA-BORN Romaine Brackenridge’s first outing for the Guyana Jaguars after switching allegiance from the country of his birth was uneventful, with the player going as an unused substitute, at the very least, he feels he is settling in well.
Brackenridge, donning the number-three jersey, watched as his Guyana Golden Jaguars cruised to a 4-1 victory over Barbados in their Concacaf Nations League play-in encounter at the Barbados Football Association Technical Centre on Friday.
The Jamaican watched as countrywoman Odette Hamilton refereed a game that didn’t start so well for his team.
The Golden Jaguars went behind in the 17th minute, Niall Reid-Stephen, putting them under pressure.
Fortunately for Brackenridge and Guyana, a brace from Omari Glasgow, beginning with a 26th-minute strike and completed in the 59th, put them back in the ascendency.
Goals from Osaze de Rosario a minute later and Enoch George (90+2) created an even better result.
Despite not playing, Brackenridge said he’s settling in perfectly with his new squad.
“It’s been good, the guys have been welcoming, I’ve settled really well with the group and it’s just a blessing to be here. The system is nothing new to me, I’ve played with those systems before so I’ll just continue to put in the work and earn the coach’s trust to be out there,” he said.
The ‘Golden Jaguars, ranked 161st in the world, were relegated from League ‘A’, Group ‘A’ after finishing bottom of the table without a victory from their four group games played. Their opponents, Barbados, ranked 173rd in the world, had hit a purple patch in recent times riding high on a four-game win streak.
The teams are vying for a place in the preliminary round of the Concacaf Gold Cup and the result has come at a time when Guyana are undergoing a transitional period.
Wayne Dover was recently named interim head coach following the exit of veteran leader Jamaal Shabazz.
Even with those changes, Brackenridge wants his team to begin turning their fortunes around.
“I’m here to win. I’m a winner and being part of this Guyanese set-up, I’ll try and pass that on to the guys – that we’re here to win.”