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‘Guyana has not lost to a Caribbean team at home since 2007’ – Skipper Nurse
Coach Shabazz says Golden Jaguars representing all of Guyana
By Sean Devers
Skipper of the Golden Jaguars National Football team, 31-year-old English born Guyanese Christopher
Christopher Nurse
Nurse said yesterday just after his team touched down at the Ogle International Airport, that he was satisfied with Guyana’s 2-2 draw with the ‘Vincy Heat’ Wednesday at Arnos Vale in St Vincent in their first game in round two of the CONCACAF FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup scheduled for Russia.
The Central mid-fielder made his debut for Guyana in 2008 and has played for the South American team 48 times and found the back of the net on five occasions. He told Kaieteur Sports that despite the absence of four key overseas players due to a delay in them getting Guyana Passports, their replacements stepped up to task admirably.
“It is very important for us to have scored goals away from home in our first game. That puts us in a very good position for our return game in Guyana. Had anyone told us before the game in St Vincent that we would earn a 2-all draw, we would have taken that any day,” disclosed Nurse, whose sibling Jon plays for English Football League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge and actually played against his brother when he played for Barbados against Guyana.
“The ground in St Vincent was much bigger and wider than the one we had practiced on. They (Vincy Heat) played a much faster game than us forcing us to come from behind twice to earn the draw,” Nurse explained.
“Now we have a few days to get accustomed to size and conditions of the Stadium and the home fans should play the role of the 12th man on Sunday. We are confident of winning at home since the last time we lost to a Caribbean team in Guyana was in 2007,” informed Nurse who was first appointed Guyana Captain in September 2011 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.
He said he was left out because the ‘old’ Administration lacked professionalism and kept out those who spoke out.
Jamaal Shabazz
“But now the Normalization Committee seems to have come in with a different plan to get everyone involved and that is one of the biggest changes I have seen since my return,” Nurse disclosed.
Touching on the absence of the four players Nurse informed that when it was known that they could not play, it never was an issue in the team and never caused any disadvantage, the others stepped up really well and everyone showed their experience, adding that the Jaguars played to their game plan.
Nurse said as far as he knew there is a process by the Government that has to be adhered to but was hopeful that their documents would be ready in time for Sunday’s game.
He said the sun in St Vincent was very hot and described the Vincentians as a very good team which played a fast paced game something the coaching staff will address for the return fixture at Providence.
Meanwhile, Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz, who is back for his third fulltime stint as Coach stressed that the Golden Jaguars were not representing the GFF or one section of Guyana but rather all of Guyana.
He urged that Government and the private sector must show their support for the team in a meaningful way, while at the same time encouraging the fans to come out in large numbers and create a sea of yellow at what he hopes is a ram-packed Stadium.
He, like his Skipper, feels that the team did not let the unavailability of some key players affect the team’s performance or mood and was pleased with the draw ‘on the road’.
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