By Calvin Roberts
Technical Director of the Guyana national football team now preparing for its first World Cup qualifying match against Suriname, Trinidadian Jamaal Shabbaz, yesterday appealed to corporate Guyana for financial assistance to aid the team’s preparation.
“The sport of football cannot work without sponsorship. Football (playing) costs a lot of money and preparation for World Cup matches has a huge cost attached to it,” said Shabbaz via a telephone interview with Stabroek Sport from Trinidad and Tobago.
The Golden Jaguars, who are presently in the twin-island republic, are undergoing final preparations for their first 2010 World Cup qualifying match against neighbours Suriname next Sunday in Suriname, have been hit by a lack of funds.
“Right now the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is under some serious financial constraints which have impacted on us over here.
“We have spoken to Mr. Klass (GFF president) and we are working towards getting rid of the problem.
“This financial problem has also caused the programme of warm-up matches against International teams to be adjusted,” Shabazz said adding: “Whenever you are faced with a situation of reality, you have to do things that are realistic to your situation.
“Our situation is we are not in a position to play any major friendlies, but we have improvised and will be playing against professional teams in Trinidad namely Joe Public, W. Connection and Jabloteh respectively.”
Despite the fact that the team was going through rough times, Shabbaz stated that the players remained committed to the schedule.
“Preparations are tough at the moment due to the financial constraints faced by the GFF but the guys have remained committed to the training schedule.
“We are not living a champagne life here. The players are very, very, very committed to fighting even if it means using bows and arrows against war tanks and nuclear weapons to put Guyana on the map during this World Cup campaign.
“The commitment shown by the staff under trying circumstances makes them worthy enough to be recognized nationally as in the end it will be best for those of us who believe in the dream.
“Things are not what we would like them to be, but we are prepared to soldier on. So far, Colin Baker, Sheridan David and members of the World Cup committee, have done their best to help the team and the programme and we would like more of corporate Guyana and Guyanese to help with this cause also.
“I know a lot of people have problems with the GFF, but I am calling on Guyanese to look at the bigger picture and find some way for this thing to work.
“I have put everything that I have owned into Guyana’s football since I have been there including my family. All is left for me to do is to die there, for Guyana and its football,” Shabbaz added.
The Golden Jaguars were to play a warm up match against Barbados yesterday in Barbados but that too was cancelled for reasons unknown.
Asked to comment on the cancellation Shabbaz simply stated: “The GFF would be better suited to comment on the Barbados match situation.”
And efforts to contact GFF president Colin Klass yesterday proved futile.
Klass, this newspaper was told, was still in Trinidad and would not be returning home until later in the week.
There is still no word from the GFF as to the venue for the Guyana/Suriname return match and unless the GFF is granted permission to use the National Stadium at Providence, the match might have to be played at a neutral venue.
