By Calvin Roberts
“They say I am a foreigner, but more important than any match, I would like to contribute to football getting a home in Guyana before I leave which is not too far away.”
So said technical director of the Guyana national football team Jamaal Shabbazz via a telephone interview with Stabroek Sport from Trinidad yesterday.
“We see in Trinidad and Jamaica that there is a home for football. I would like to see the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) being transformed into a home for football in Guyana. But who am I to say such,” said Shabbazz.
Minutes earlier, the Golden Jaguars as they are called had lost their final preparatory game to one of Trinidad and Tobago’s top clubs, San Juan Jabloteh by a 2-3 score.
“We lost that game to Jabloteh, but I am confident that come Saturday 14 in Suriname, we will be victorious against our host in that World Cup qualifier.
“The team is playing much more organized in the field. We are creating chances, but much more needs to be done when it comes to our finishing.”
He added:” We are creating chances especially with the combination of Collie ’Hitman’ Hercules and Gregory ’Jackie Chan’ Richardson up front, but the finishing needs to be spot on and in our final training session tomorrow morning (today) we would be working on that along with the style of defence we want to employ against Suriname before leaving for that country tomorrow (tonight) night.
“We want to focus on a team game, but with four prominent strikers in Richardson, Hercules, Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington and Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, we want to find a way to play all four as they are important with what they bring to the game for Guyana. But we are toying with the idea of playing all four in the game,” Shabbazz added.
Shabbazz said that the players were a confident bunch and were raring to have a go at their neighbours to the east.
When quizzed on the mood of the players following the announcement of the return match being played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Shabbazz said that they were very excited.
“They are very excited at playing at the Stadium, but we would be looking to have two or if possible three practice sessions there so as not to be total strangers to the venue as our opponents. It is exciting to play at home and with most of the players showcasing their skills away from home, it would be an exciting moment for them to do so before a packed Stadium on the 22nd June.”
He also complimented the relevant authorities for settling the venue issue. “I must say congrats to those in authority for settling this issue so quickly. But, this incident still raised the fundamental issue that football in Guyana needs a home. This is a challenge that all football administrators in the Caribbean must step up to, in making a home for football in their respective country.”
Shabbazz’s contract with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will expire in May 2009, but he says that at any given time he is prepared to go. “I have learnt in this profession that results define a coach. I have always learnt also to have my bags packed and ready for any unknown eventuality. But I would love to see football getting a home in Guyana before I go,” he said.
Shabbaz said he believed that Guyana will start at a disadvantage when they take on Suriname on Saturday.
“Our preparation, given the time we had could have been more properly organized, but what we know of the opposition is that they wasted no time in getting things done. Having said so, I must say also that we face an uphill battle in Suriname, but we all know how important this game is to the future of Guyana and we will be doing our best when we get there.”
“Even those who have stood by the sides and watch this team suffer in so many ways will be happy for us to advance. But such an act will take grit and determination for us to get over Suriname and the guys are prepared to do such to achieve a victory.”
“I am not satisfied as yet that there is that attractive spirit in the country for this team. God has a way of giving a people what they deserve. I only pray that we as a Guyanese people make ourselves deserving of a victory against Suriname” he added.
Shabbazz said he planned to take a well-deserved break from football following Guyana’s clashes with Suriname. “All my life in football, I have never taken a holiday but after these two games against Suriname I have to take one. These preparations have taken much of my strength, efforts and resources, thus I will be taking a much deserved break.”
Meanwhile, in the Jaguars defeat against Jabloteh, Abrams and England-based Howard Newton were the scorers.
