Latest update September 26th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 10, 2011 Sports
Urges politicians to put away Party colors and wear Yellow tomorrow
By Sean Devers
This is the second coming of Guyana Football Coach Jamaal Shabazz and the Trinidadian intends to
make it count with a historic 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification in Brazil.
Shabazz was in charge of the national side between 2005 to 2008 and retuned last year for a successful stint which now sees Guyana leading group favourites Trinidad and Tobago by a point going into their crucial final two CONCACAF group matches against the Soca Warriors at Providence tomorrow and in the Twin-Island Republic in their return game on November 15.
A former Soca Warriors Coach, Shabazz knows the task is tough. But he is confident Guyana is adequately prepared to upset the team from his homeland, who joined Jamaica (1998) when they participated in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, as the only teams from the English speaking Caribbean to qualify for Football’s biggest stage.
With victories against Barbados and Bermuda, Guyana’s one-point cushion means that once they are not beaten in their final two games they will advance to the much tougher second round.
Guyana biggest victory was their 14-nil mauling of Anguilla in Antigua in April 1998 but tomorrow only a draw is required to keep the South Americans in the hunt for their first ever World Cup qualification.
“The score-line is not in our hands but we are looking for a positive result. What matters is producing our best effort. Preparation influences results and I think we have prepared well,” the garrulous Shabazz informed the media at the team’s City Hotel yesterday.
Tomorrow emotions could be mixed for Shabazz who had earlier said, “I have to put my emotions to one side and do it for the region. If I don’t, then everything FIFA has invested in my training as a coach will go to waste.”
He thinks Guyana’s biggest edge is the passion of the Guyanese people…the way they have connected with the team.
“On paper T&T is a formidable opponent but the game is played on the pitch and passion has a great capacity for influencing high level competition. I think T&T will be surprised with the turn out at the Stadium (tomorrow). The 12th man in the stand is very important in home games,” Shabazz opined.
Shabazz said because competition for places in the side is high, the intensity at practice sessions is great. “I have never worked with a bunch of players so eager to play a football match,” the Head Coach said.
Back in 1998, when the teams last met in a World Cup qualifier, T&T won 1-nil in Guyana and 4-nil at home.
Thirteen years later, the group favourites could be in for one of their most critical qualifying games against a Guyana team which looks a highly disciplined and professional unit.
Shabazz says while it is an important game for both teams it should mean a lot more to the Guyanese since nobody expected them to be leading the group at this stage.
“T&T will not come here and lie down. They have come with over 300 supporters and their Media,” Shabazz noted.
The Golden Jaguars have a strong legion of foreign-based players in their side, a valuable resource unavailable to them in the past.
“We’ve got six lads in England who’ve got Guyanese parents and have decided to support the cause, among them our skipper Chris Nurse,” said the coach. “We’ve also got Leon Cort, who’s with Charlton Athletic, and a few other footballers playing in the USA’s second tier and in Trinidad and Tobago.” Shabazz said after Guyana’s last match.
Looking at the players relaxing at their hotel yesterday, one sensed a focused team, a team determined to make their county proud. Discipline, cohesion and a quiet confidence were evident, things sometimes missing in past National Footballs teams.
“The main difference between this team and the one I coached in 2005 to 2007 is the professionalism and discipline.
He feels that while the players in the previous sides had talent, it was sometimes about show. He said the players here are more focused on results as a team and makes coaching easy.
“I think the presence of the overseas professionals is a main reason we are doing so well. I also think many of the guys have matured as players and understand the importance of this to their country and how Football can benefit them,” Shabazz explained.
He said the players are focused and hungry for success adding that he has seen massive improvement in the preparation of this side. The GFF has done well although funding is still an issue,” the Head Coach disclosed.
“It can’t be like the GFF is a man and his dog walking alone. Cooperate Guyana and the Government needs to also come on board in a big way and understand the importance of Football, not only as a sport but to Guyana as a country,” the Trinidadian stressed.
“It’s not a team that comes out of this group but a country…..not the GFF but Guyana! It is important that the GFF receive support,” Shabazz added.
“On the field I am happy at where we are at but off the field there are too many distractions. The good thing is that the players are not too deterred by what is going on around them because they want this (qualification) badly. They want it for their friends, family… for Guyana,” Shabazz revealed.
“This is a crucial time in Guyana with elections coming up but it does not matter which Government comes into power….Guyana qualifying here will be historic and a major boost for the country as a whole,” Shabazz stated.
“This is not about elections but resurrection! We remember the pride and excitement when Jamaica qualified in 1998 and T&T in 2006. Now it’s Guyana’s turn,” Shabazz declared.
The Guyana Coach wants all political Parties to put their elections campaign on hold for one day and to campaign for the Guyana team tomorrow at Providence.
“Put away all the Party colours and come out to the Stadium with yellow in a show of national unity and patriotism for Guyana,” Shabazz urged the politicians.
He said the Guyana team is looking forward to seeing all the Political leaders wearing yellow and throwing their support behind the Golden Jaguars at a venue which is expected to produce a sea of yellow and thousands of Guyana flags waving.
The battle lines are drawn! The Soca Warriors are in town, the Guyanese are a match away from creating one of the biggest upsets in Caribbean Football and Shabazz and the Golden Jaguars are ready to pounce on its prey.
The prospect of a diet of pulsating Football tomorrow is mouth-watering, as the Christopher Nurse led Golden Jaguars continue their journey to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Let’s show them the POWER we have.
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