With only one day to go before the biggest game in Guyana’s football history commences, charismatic Golden Jaguars coach Jamaal Shabbaz is urging Guyanese, including the politicians, to put a temporary halt to election campaign rhetoric and unite as a country for one night in support of the national team.
“I’m extending a special call to the public and politicians to put a pause on the election campaign in this game. We desperately need the fans on Friday night to be a strong 12th man, since that is the biggest edge Guyana have over Trinidad,” said a passionate Shabbaz during a press conference at the Raddison Hotel yesterday.
He continued: “I saw this phenomenon in 1998 when Jamaica qualified for the World Cup and in 2006 with Trinidad. So I’m calling on the politicians to take a step backwards for this key moment and demonstrate nationalism by exchanging the party colours of the PPP, APNU, AFC and other parties and wear yellow in a sign of unity. The Trinidad team and people in the Caribbean in general still view Guyana as cricket country and genuinely underrate the love for football in this country and this is your chance to show it.”
Shabbaz went on to articulate what he felt are the key differences between the current Golden Jaguars outfit compared to the one he had coached between 2005-2007, which has seen the national team remain unbeaten so far in their World Cup Qualifying campaign.
“I think the big difference this time around is the attitude,” he said, explaining Guyana’s sudden upturn in fortunes. “Unlike last time, the message has really got through. Maybe we don’t have the same talent and flare as before, but we’ve worked hard on being organized, very professional thanks to the influx of foreign players and discipline, that’s what’s brought us these good results,” the Trinidadian pointed out. When Stabroek Sport solicited his thoughts about reports out of Trinidad that this game against Guyana is just as significant to them, as their now famous 2006 World Cup qualifying match versus Bahrain, Shabbaz noted that such a view should further galvanize the local public to come out.
500-plus Trinis
“I would agree with that statement entirely and because of that Trinidad are bringing 500-plus supporters for this game, since they realize the importance of this clash. Fans need to turn Providence Stadium on Friday night into a “Jaguars den”.
When you watch a Manchester United vs Chelsea or Real Madrid vs Barcelona game, when the opposition gets the ball, the home fans give them sporting hostility and that’s what Guyanese have to do,” Shabbaz emphasized.
“In my career I have never worked with a bunch of players so eager to play a football game and all the team requires is for the fans to reward them for their efforts and come out in their thousands and rally behind them.”
