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.
