The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) continues says that they expect Golden Jaguars head coach and Trinidad and Tobago native Jamaal Shabazz to be a member of the management staff at the upcoming Gold Cup Preliminary tournament.
Quizzed if Shabazz will be a member of the management team during the Gold Cup training phase and campaign in the USA, General Secretary Ian Alves said, “That is the plan.” However, when asked if Shabazz can travel to the USA, Alves conceded, “I don’t know.”
Presently, Shabazz is not a member of the team that is currently undergoing preparation in Jamaica at the Football Federation Technical Centre in Kingston, as the preparatory phase is currently under the supervision of assistant coach Wayne Dover.
Similarly, the GFF is still yet to formally announce the provisional squad or management team ahead of their departure today for the USA to commence their second training stint, despite being in Jamaica since May 26th. The team is expected to be whittled down to its final 23 members before the start of the USA training camp.
According to CONCACAF, Guyana’s Gold Cup Preliminary Roster comprises Marcus Wilson, Daniel Wilson, Emery Welshman, Terrence Vancooten, Anthony Smith, Marcus Simmons, Pernel Schultz, Quillan Roberts, Terrence Ondaan, Sese Norville, Colin Nelson, Joshua Naraine, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Deon Moore, Tre Medford, Kai McKenzie-Lyle, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Leo Lovell, Connor Kurran-Browne, Curtez Kellman, Jalen Jones, Akini James, Sheldon Holder, Callum Harriott, Reis Greenidge, Jonathan Grant, and Liam Gordon.
Interestingly, the likes of Akel Clarke, Jeremy Garrett, Stephon Duke-McKenna, Elliot Bonds, Samuel Cox, Kadel Daniels, Neil Danns, and Trayon Bobb, who were not listed on the CONCACAF website as being members of the provisional squad, are in Jamaica with the programme.
Correspondingly, Nelson, Norville, and Schultz, who are listed on the provisional squad, are presently not in Jamaica.
Guyana is scheduled to face Grenada on June 17th at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. If successful, they will play the winner of the Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago fixture for a place in the Gold Cup. 23 players will form the final squad for the Gold Cup Prelims.
The Golden Jaguars qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup Prelims following a runner-up finish in group C of League B in the 2022/20223 edition of the Nations League. All Gold Cup preliminary matches are being held at the DRV PNK Stadium in Miami.
