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Golden Jaguars rapidly becoming a force in CFU!
By Santokie Nagulendran
A lot can happen in the world of football, and the recent fortunes of the National Team are a testament to that.
Santokie Nagulendran
A year ago, if you spoke to any football fan in Guyana, they would declare both outrage and sadness at the inactivity of the Men’s senior team, who went almost two years without playing a game. Speak to fans now however, and their opinion had dramatically changed: a remarkably fast action-plan by FIFA’s Normalisation Committee means that there is clear optimism and belief in the National programme once again.
Two efficient wins in the past two weeks have proven that the Golden Jaguars are a team with high quality, and once they gain more experience of playing together as a unit, they will inevitably improve as a team. What impressed in the games, against St Lucia and Grenada, was the discipline in the team: after letting go of a two-goal lead against Barbados in February, it is clear that Jamaal Shabazz has made defensive stability a focus. In 180 minutes of football, the Golden Jaguars did not concede a single goal: defenders Colin Nelson and Jamaal Smith featured in both games and must therefore be commended for their defensive roles. Both victories mean that Guyana can expect to climb up a few spots in April’s FIFA Rankings which are published this Thursday.
The acquisition of UK-based players Matthew Briggs and Neil Danns is a move that has added even more quality to the side, and given the team players who have experience of playing at the top level. Both Briggs and Danns made their debut against Grenada last Sunday and slotted into the team as if they had been playing for Guyana for the past few years. Briggs was assured in his role as left-back, whilst Danns provided a creative outlet for strikers Emery Welshman and Pernell Schultz, eventually playing in a role in both the goals.
With young talent such as Pernell Schultz, Sheldon Holder, Daniel Wilson, Trayon Bobb, Emery Welshman, Vurlon Mills, Colin Nelson and Briggs working alongside and learning from more experienced players such as
The Guyana Golden Jaguars following one of their recent victories.
Walter Moore, Neil Danns and skipper Christopher Nurse, Jamaal Shabazz has assembled a squad which could dominate the region for years to come if the right resources are utilised. The fact that Shabazz only started five of the same players from the St Lucia game for the Grenada tie reveals the squad’s depth that is gradually become available to the National Team.
The Normalisation Committee installed by FIFA have been a credit to the game in Guyana: they have made sure the best possible back-room staff are working with the team and allowed coach Shabazz to utilise overseas-based players to help the team. Crucially, the NC has also arranged regular International fixtures for the squad to play: having played three games in the space of two months, the GFF announced this week that the Golden Jaguars will travel to Suriname on 30th April for a game against Suriname, which promises to be a very interesting match.
Despite the tie against Suriname being played outside of the FIFA International Window, and therefore meaning overseas-based players will not feature, the fixture will allow domestic-based players to stake their claim in the first XI. With the Kashif and Shanghai finals taking place tonight between Alpha United and Slingerz FC, it will be interesting to see if veteran striker Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, who has been in fine form throughout the competition, makes the Golden Jaguars squad for the Suriname game, as well as Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, who scored the goal which took Alpha United to tonight’s final.
Jamaal Shabazz has quite possibly built the best Golden Jaguars side of all time in his third stint as coach; there is talent in all positions and a vast amount of depth to the squad, which bodes well for the future. All these factors mean that the Golden Jaguars should be heading to their World Cup Qualifier against St Vincent and the Grenadines in June feeling confident of progressing to the next round.
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