Some eight years ago in 2016, Theodore Whitmore called up one of Jamaica’s most promising defenders, Romaine Brackenridge, to the Reggae Boyz squad to play two International Friendlies against the United States of America.

Brackenridge had brought Tivoli Gardens to the pinnacle of the premier league with some outstanding performances and deservedly earned that call.

However, he was not in the final squad to play the Americans and never got the chance again to play for the country of his birth or wear the black, gold and green of Jamaica.

Now in 2024, Brackenridge has gleefully accepted the invitation to represent the green, white, gold, black and red of Guyana.

Brackenridge was an unused substitute in Guyana’s 4-1 win over Barbados last Friday, November 15 as he starts his international career with no regrets.

“I am eligible to play for Guyana through my grandmother and great-grandfather,” he told Our Today.

“It’s an overwhelming feeling knowing that my great-grandfather was a military servant of the country. It was always a part of me to continue his legacy in the beautiful country of Guyana through sports.”

The 30-year-old Brackenridge, who was born in Jamaica and spent time in England, used to attend Harbour View primary, Vauxhall High and the Caribbean Maritime University, said he was welcomed with open arms in Guyana.

“From the first day I walked in the camp all players, manager, coaches and the president of the GFF (Guyana Football Federation) make me feel at home,” he noted.

But Brackenridge has no mixed emotions switching his allegiance from Jamaica to the South American-located country that’s a part of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

“The culture of Guyana was always a part of me growing up so both countries have a special place in my heart,” he pointed out.

Over the years, the Jamaica Football Federation has been recruiting English-born players to strengthen the Reggae Boyz team and players like Brackenridge are often overlooked or sidelined.

Ironically, the Guyanese Football Federation are doing the same, hence the opportunity for Brackenridge to kick-start his international career. The tough-tackling defender who won the Jamaican Premier League with Portmore United and Harbour View, said he respected the JFF position.

“They think it’s the best thing for the country so I have made my decision and I’m so grateful for this opportunity the Lord has blessed me with,” said Brackenridge.

“I’m like a sponge absorbing everything around me and continue to grow not just as a player but as a person,” he added.

Only recently Guyana returned to international football after world-governing body FIFA had to intervene in the running of the country’s football and removed the football federation’s executive in 2014. That paved the way for the country’s return in 2015 as FIFA installed its Normalisation Committee to regularise football in Guyana.

Guyana known as the “Golden Jaguars” are ranked 161st in the world. They finished bottom of the table in their Nations League group and are now in the Play-In tournament.