-Interviews former national midfielder Ivan Persaud
By Donald Duff
The Guyana Football Federation is yet to name a replacement for former Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz.
Shabazz resigned last November after the failure of the national football team to qualify for the finals of the Digicel Caribbean Cup football competition.
Shabazz first took charge of the Golden Jaguars as the national team is known in 2005 and he immediately made an impact.
Under his stewardship the national team played for two years without being defeated and earned their highest FIFA world ranking of 90.
The team was also rated number two in the Caribbean.
But since then things have not been so golden for the Jaguars and the team failed to get past Suriname in the second round of the FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifiers losing both the home and away matches.
Shabazz’s resignation came hot on the heels of the announcement that the entire Golden Jaguars squad had decided to retire from the sport until the current GFF president Colin Klass demitted the office.
The ultimatum by the players was given to the diminutive Klass after he was confronted by the players at around 3am outside the Crown Plaza Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago following the team’s 1-1 draw with the Soca Warriors in the final match of their failed Digicel Carribbean Cup campaign.
With Shabazz out of the picture, the GFF had announced that they would be naming a successor in the near future.
Klass himself had given the time frame of this month-end but it is unclear whether the GFF has decided on its man.
However, informed sources told Stabroek Sports that the GFF had met with former national midfielder Ivan Persaud recently.
Persaud, who resides in England and was back home for a short visit was understood to have impressed the GFF with his technical knowledge. “He presented a full scientific programme for their perusal,” the source said adding that the GFF had baulked at Persaud’s fee which is reported to be in the vicinity of 3000 pounds sterling more than the estimated US$2500 Shabazz received.
Persaud, it is understood, is scheduled to return to Guyana sometime in the future to do a clinic for the GFA.
The GFF, it is understood, might be looking to a local person to fill the position vacated by Shabazz even though that might be a more viable option financially.
The locals who have indicated an interest in the post through newspaper reports are Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover and Charles `Lilly’ Pollard.
Others who might be considered are Linden France, Mervin Wilson, Gordon Braithwaite and Bill Wilson.
Meanwhile the GFF and the GFA are scheduled to meet today to iron out a few differences.
According to reports reaching Stabroek Sports the two bodies are at loggerheads and the GFF have summoned the general council of the GFA to a meeting.
The GFA it is understood wants the issue of the resignation of Klass to be on the agenda.
Other thorny issues which will be discussed at today’s meeting are the transfer of players, youth development and the general administration of football in Georgetown.