Following Jamaal Shabazz’s announcement that he will stepping down from the helm of the Golden Jaguars, former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Vice President Ivan Persaud said he is open to the idea of coaching the senior setup.
Despite having a contract that concludes at the end of the year, the Trinidad and Tobago native said he will leave the post after Guyana’s 4-2 extra time loss to Jamaica at the National Track and Field Centre in the Caribbean Cup Qualifiers. The aforesaid defeat sealed Guyana’s exit from the championship.
Persaud during an invited comment with Stabroek Sports said “I am open to the job, who wouldn’t be for their country. It will always be any coach’s dream to coach the national team, I coached at the highest level before and I was there [Golden Jaguars] before. Football is my first love, I studied it for many years and I would do it again for my country”.
Asked if he believes he is qualified enough to hold the position, Persaud who is also the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) declared “Of course, I have a professional coaching licence from the Colombian Football Federation”.
According to Persaud “I think I can bring professionalism, I am not saying that the previous team was not professional, it’s just that it will be a different coach, a different mindset, and a different voice”.
He further added “I will also try to surround myself with other competent staff, it is not me alone will do the job. Any coach who believes he can do the job alone will be mistaken, it’s a team of persons and football is not only played on the field but also off the field”.
