Biblical tales inspiring Golden Jags Nations League campaign

By Jemima Holmes

“When the battle was on and David tell his brother and them ‘listen I going’, they said ‘stay home’ and David decided he want to go, he insists. Goliath and his crew was winning the battle and like you see on all those movies, David with a slinging shot, the least of resources,” an animated Jamaal Shabazz said on Monday morning.

“What would have prompted David, a youth at the time, to even want to go to the battlefield with Goliath. It had to be something inside him, to drive him to create and action and this is the same thing.”
He continued, “We feel that we are prepared. We will not compare our preparation with the opponent; we will not compare resources, but we feel we’ve prepared. And we have a firm feeling inside us, and we cannot be denied this feeling. Just as David’s brother could not deny that feeling inside, and hopefully, with that faith and with the help of God and with effort and commitment, we’ll get the job done.”
That, the story of David and Goliath, is where the senior men’s national football team Head Coach draws his inspiration from as they embark on yet another CONCACAF Nations League journey.
Along with Shabazz’s inspiring words, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Monday morning released a 31-member shortlist for the senior men’s national team as they ramp up preparations for the upcoming tournament.
Shabazz, speaking at a press conference at the GFF’s Campbellville Headquarters, reiterated the confidence he felt, telling of the high spirits in the Golden Jaguars training sessions.
“I can say very strongly that the group feeling in the team is a very, very positive one. We have players committed to play for Guyana and making the necessary sacrifices. So, where we lack in resources, we certainly want to make up in the right attitude and a sensible and committed approach,” the Head Coach shared.
“I would say to the nation, come aboard now and make an emotional investment in this effort.”
“This is how we have to approach this journey with the Golden Jaguars, that everybody must see the stake in it. The fans, Government, corporate Guyana, the players, the GFF, the Olympic Association, everybody must see their stake in it and we must do this thing together,” he added.
The Golden Jaguars will have a busy few weeks ahead with a week’s training in Trinidad and Tobago, inclusive of two practice matches before heading to the Dominican Republic for their first fixture on June 4, 2022.

The national team will take on Monserrat and Haiti in away games on June 4 and June 14 while they battle Bermuda and Haiti at home on June 7 and June 11.
Shabazz went on to discuss the rationale behind the friendlies and the Golden Jags’ game plan heading into the tournament.
He disclosed, “We’re going to play two closed-door friendlies to help them to bond better, but the emphasis, generally, will be trying to develop an approach, an attack and a defence that suits what we’ve been doing. And there are couple boys who I’ve not worked with before like Mckenna and a few others that I’m working with for the first time.
“It’s really an interesting weeks’ work. It’s going to be tough, but speaking to the guys, I think they’re all looking forward to it as well.”
Meanwhile, GFF President Wayne Forde detailed the preparation that was injected into the national team while letting corporate Guyana know that the GFF would be reaching out for support.
“The Nations League is one of the most important tournaments that we participate in as a Golden Jaguars brand and you would have all seen in the past months. The team has been in preparation from the beginning of January and continues to prepare,” Forde said, “To date, we would have participated in six international friendlies.”
He added, “I want to use this occasion to ask our sponsors and other organisations who’ve come on board in the past to support this undertaking of the GFF, to expect to hear from us.”
The Nations League will commence on June 2, and run until March 2023. While 31 names have been shortlisted, the team will be reduced to 26 persons ahead of the tournament’s commencement.

The 31-member shortlisted squad reads:
Goalkeepers
1. Alex Murray
2. Quillan Roberts
3. Sese Norville
4. Akel Clarke

Defenders
5. Marcus Wilson
6. Quincy Adams
7. Jaylen Jones
8. Jeremy Garrett
9. Kevin Layne
10. Matthew Briggs
11. Leo Lovell
12. Shemar Fraser
13. Sam Cox

Midfielders
14. Daniel Wilson
15. Nathan Moriah Welsh
16. Clive Nobrega
17. Job Caesar
18. Curtez Kellman
19. Javier George
20. Neil Danns

Forwards
21. Trayon Bobb
22. Marcel Barrington
23. Kelsey Benjamin
24. Jamal Perriera
25. Terell Ondaan
26. Ryan Hackett
27. Pernell Schultz
28. Anthony Jeffrey
29. Omari Glasgow
30. Emery Welshman
31. Stephen Duke McKenna.