Golden Jaguars national coach, Jamaal Shabazz, says that after next week’s friendly international against Panama he and his technical staff will select the final squad for Guyana’s two opening third round 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Costa Rica to be played on June 8 and 12.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday afternoon via telephone from Jamaica, just before the team departed for practice at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, the Trinidadian spoke about tonight’s friendly versus the “Reggae Boyz” along with the upcoming squad selection for the qualifiers.
“We go into this friendly tomorrow (tonight) with open arms just as we did when we played Guatemala in February. Jamaica is a World Cup quality team, this is the kind of test I want this team to have,” explained Shabazz.
He continued: “With this young squad, this is a step up for them from the games we have played before this year versus Grenada, French Guiana, St. Vincent, etc. and the eventual outcome will answer any lingering questions I may still have about their suitability at this level.”
Shabazz then explained why Guyana’s 2-1 win versus Guadeloupe in their most recent engagement on May 6 has altered the thought process for the squad he will eventually pick, given the performances of some of the younger players.
“I must say also the way some of the young guys played in the game in Guadeloupe has made me and assistant coach Dover (Wayne) stand up and rethink which players we really want you know,” he said.
“Of course our foreign-based contingent has big reputations and unfortunately can’t be in Jamaica now due to understandable circumstances. But as the saying goes “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” and the more these guys that I’m seeing playing continues to impress, then they can certainly put those foreign- based players’ places under pressure.”
He concluded by disclosing when the squad for the Mexico and Costa Rica fixtures to be played at the Estadio Azteca and Providence Stadium will be picked.
He also looked at the prospects of the second tier squad that will be going to the Parbo Bier Cup in Suriname from May 23 – 27.
“At this stage we are set to name the final 20-man squad and three standby players to go into camp at an undisclosed location after the Panama friendly on May 20th. By then the pens would have been lifted and ink would have been dried for the destiny of the players,” Shabazz noted.
“But even before that those under-23 players that will be going to Suriname, if coach Dover tells me after those games, that a player performed to the level that merits consideration for the main squad, I would seriously consider picking that player too.”
Meanwhile, Guyana faces Jamaica this evening at 8pm, Jamaica time (9pm Guyana time).
Guyana squad: Goalkeepers – Ronson Williams, Richard Reynolds; Defenders – Charles Pollard, Julien Edwards, Kester Jacobs, Colin Nelson, Kester David; Midfielders – Dwain Jacobs, Dwight Peters, Trayon Bobb, Kayode McKinnon, Konata Mannings, Brandon Beresford, Anthony Benfield: Strikers – Carl Cort, Shawn Beveney, Vurlon Mills, Anthony Abrams, Daniel Wilson.
Coach Jamaal Shabazz, Assistant Coach: Wayne Dover, Trainer: Ivan Persaud, General Manager: Rawle Adams, Assistant Manager: Mark Xavier, Goalkeeper/Coach: Andrew Hazel, Equipment Manager: Trevor Burnett, Physiotherapists: Donna Marie Wickham, Debita Harripersaud
Jamaica squad: Goalkeeper – Jacomeno Barrett, Defenders – Claude Davis, Damion Stewart, Adrian Reid, Nathan Smith, Xavean Virgo, Wolry Wolfe, Lance Laing, O’Brian Woodbine, Adrian Mariappa, Nyron Nosworthy; Mid-fielders – Omar Daley, Keammar Daley, Andre Campbell, Damion Williams, Jorginho James, Chris Humphrey, Joel Senior, Rohan Reid: Strikers – Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton, Marlon King, Errol Stevens, Darren Mattocks.
