Jamaal Shabazz, head of the coach Guyana U23 squad said he is optimistic that his side can qualify from the group round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the 2018 Olympic Qualifiers once the ideal preparation is undertaken.
The Golden Jaguars are grouped with Aruba, Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda in the tournament. Aruba was scheduled to host the group playoffs but has opted out. A host nation for the leg has yet to be named by the CFU. The Guyanese will play their first game on June 24th against Antigua and Barbuda.
In their second matchup, Guyana will oppose Aruba two days later. They will then conclude their tourney on June 28th against giants Cuba. Winners of each group will progress to the final round where an elimination tourney will commence from August 14th-16th.
The top two teams from that single elimination grouping will join Mexico, Canada and USA in the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship.
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sports, Shabazz said talent wise he is not worried as he believes the team has enough quality to compete, stating that they need the required level of preparation to give themselves a great chance of progressing to the next round.
Shabazz, who also holds the portfolio of Guyana senior men’s head-coach, said that the team has greatly improved from the initial stages of preparation, noting that the early hindrance was the players’ lack of fitness due to the possible dearth of training time with their respective clubs.
He added that the team is very strong in the attacking and midfield areas and that the only concern, while minimal is the rearguard especially in the centrehalf position.
Shabazz declared that the management staff has also brought in Slingerz FC tactician Joseph Wilson to assist in the team’s preparation, noting that he is big asset as he has a lot of experience and knowledge of the players.
According to Shabazz, the overseas-born and based players will have an impact on the quality of the team, pointing out that chemistry within the bunch will not be an issue as the management will create the environment for that intangible to flourish.
He further declared that the foreign-born and based players are more than willing to be a part of something important and that’s the critical element for the chemistry to improve.
Shabazz added that they will enter the team not thinking they are superior to the local lads but with a sense of humility and eagerness to work together to accomplish a feat.
Asked what the criteria utilized to shortlist the team was, the Trinidad and Tobago native declared that recommendations were utilized from various coaches in several regions as well as organized association fixtures to form a pool for the resulting screening process and trials.
