Two late goals from Jamal Fraser secured a 6–4 victory over French Guiana as Guyana opened their Inter Guiana Games (IGG) futsal title defence in Paramaribo, Suriname, while both Guyanese basketball teams suffered opening defeats.
Darius Chester also scored twice in the futsal encounter at the Anthony Nesty facility, helping the defending champions overcome a determined French Guiana side that repeatedly fought back.
Guyana’s next futsal assignment is against hosts Suriname on Sunday evening, with head coach Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson confident his team can build on their winning start.
Quaency Fraser gave Guyana an immediate advantage, scoring in the opening seconds before French Guiana equalised. Chester restored the lead, while Mark Glasgow also found the net just before halftime. However, French Guiana scored three times during the opening period to send the teams into the break level at 3–3.
Richardson and assistant coach Jermain Junor, both experienced former futsal players, used the interval to rally the squad. Richardson reminded the players of their standing as defending champions and their goal of returning home with the trophy.
Chester completed his brace in the 36th minute to put Guyana ahead again, but French Guiana responded to make it 4–4 and leave the match finely balanced.
Jamal Fraser then struck twice in quick succession, providing the decisive goals as Guyana held on to begin their campaign with a hard-fought win.
Afterwards, Richardson praised his players’ response under pressure against a strong French Guiana team. Having guided Guyana to the title on home soil last year, he believes the squad has the ability and determination to repeat that success in Suriname.
Basketball teams face early setbacks
Guyana’s boys lost 92–67 to French Guiana despite a strong third-quarter recovery, while the girls fell 67–25 to hosts Suriname in their opening basketball matches at the same venue.
The boys cut a 21-point halftime deficit to 11 heading into the final quarter, but turnovers and defensive lapses allowed French Guiana to regain control.
Led by Chouino BeDout, who finished with a game-high 24 points, French Guiana established a 33–20 first-quarter advantage and extended their lead to 56–35 at halftime.
Guyana responded after the break under head coach Warren Wilson and assistant Kwesi Thompson, outscoring their opponents 23–13 in the third period to reduce the margin to 69–58.
Avion Kesney finished with a team-high 15 points, supported by Josiah Cumberbatch with 14 and Tyreek Sampson with 13. Stephan Duke added nine points and Leon Simon scored four, with both also contributing to the improved defensive effort during Guyana’s strongest quarter.
However, the recovery stalled in the final period. French Guiana punished Guyana’s ball-handling errors and outscored them 23–9 to complete the victory.
In the girls’ contest, Guyana stayed within reach early, trailing 16–10 after the opening quarter, before Suriname pulled away.
Junelly Paddy led Guyana with 10 points, while Breanna Benjamin contributed six. A decisive 20-point scoring run helped the hosts take control, leaving head coach Osafa Johnson and assistant Ann Gordon searching for a response as the gap widened.
Both Guyanese basketball teams face further tests in their next matches, with the boys meeting defending champions Suriname and the girls taking on French Guiana.
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