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‘Golden Jaguars’ focused and committed – Shabazz

Jun 14, 2008 Sports

Tough period of preparation, but many lessons learnt

By Franklin Wilson in Suriname compliments of Digicel and Carib
With Guyana’s ‘Golden Jaguars’ set to commence their quest in earnest for a place at the finals of the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010, Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz says, his charges are focused and committed to this challenge despite the many challenges they encountered during preparation.
The squad, which is comfortably housed at the North Resort Hotel in Paramaribo, had a training session Wednesday afternoon after arriving in Suriname after 12:00 the same morning.
The session which was held at the NSVB ground focused on defensive coordination and finishing. It lasted for two hours. And head Coach Wayne Dover believes that it was very successful.
Thursday evening after dinner, the team reviewed the games they played against Pro League teams Caladonia AIA and San Juan Jabloteh.

Shabazz, who is always philosophical in his analogy of situations, said they have put the many challenges behind them and they are many lessons learnt particularly for the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

“We really got to go back to the drawing board and examine planning in relation to the resources that we have available to us.”
The Trinidad and Tobago former national Goalkeeper noted at the same time, that everybody must understand that they have a responsibility to the team.

“This is not just the team of the GFF this is the team of Guyana, the government and people of Guyana.

Guyana has a responsibility to this team because this team has a responsibility to carry the flag in the same way as a Soldier or Police officer or a Public Servant who has to work on behalf of their country with honour and pride.”
The team in its preparation encountered many difficulties financially but a number of persons including non Guyanese have come to the rescue according to Shabazz.
Among them is FIFA Vice President Austin ‘Jack’ Warner who is also CFU and CONCACAF President.
Warner made a tremendous donation of boots valued at US $300 to every player on the squad and has also helped in other ways.

Also chipping was Imam Yassin Abu Baker and lots of others Shabazz said because they recognize that the team was in a situation where they needed help and he is very grateful to them all.
“I encourage all the people who sit on the side lines, who call the camp to make mischief for the players to make negative statements, I call on them to abandon negative ways on the eve of this match and to see how important this is for the country to go forward in this World Cup Qualifying Tournament.”
Chatting with some of the players Thursday evening, one could have felt the seriousness and focus ahead of this all important clash which will be contested at the Andre Kampervine Stadium.
A very large contingent of Guyanese fans were expected to invade Suriname yesterday as they support their Golden Jaguars to what they hope is a convincing win.
Shabazz said that Guyana needs to remember that this is a battle and who can come should come and who cannot come and they can afford should finance those who could come.
“This is war and everybody, every able bodied Guyanese who can afford to come to Suriname to support the team should come and those who cannot should send their prayers, their good vibes and their positive feeling for the team so that we can get over this threshold and go to the next level.
This is a crucial time for sport and for Guyana as a nation and everyone should recognize and should be part of this.”

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