CONCACAF Nations League: Shabazz, Glasgow call for better crowd showing against Haiti

– Golden Jags were the better team, says Bermudan Coach

Guyana’s senior men’s national football team the Golden Jaguars are making a case for themselves in the ongoing CONCACAF Nations League, with two wins in two games and sitting atop their Group.

The Golden Jaguars’ 2-1 victory over Bermuda on Tuesday afternoon has been met with mixed reactions from the leaders of both teams.
Bermudan Head Coach Kyle Lightbourne has been quick to admit that Guyana had a better 90 minutes, but this admission did not come without the Coach compensating for his team’s loss.
“We didn’t start the game tonight, Guyana were the better team. The first half, they deservedly went in front. We could have been a couple down; we just was off our game today,” Lightbourne told media operatives following the game at the Leonora Track and Field Center.

He added, “I wouldn’t say travel had anything to do with it, cause everybody had to travel. We just didn’t come out of the blocks with the right intensity, which we said to the guys that they had to.”
The Bermudan Coach went on to express his disappointment in giving up 3 points to Guyana, when they were able to hold Haiti to a draw.
“We got a good point against Haiti. Maybe that game took a little bit out of a couple of our players. We had a few COVID issues at that last minute, so we had to rejig the team leaving Bermuda, where guys couldn’t travel,” he explained.
“Haiti is the powerhouse of this group; we got a point from them. Disappointed that we didn’t get nothing from this game, and I think it’s basically down to the start of the match and, you know, a little lapse, where they scored right before halftime and we’re saying, ‘Let’s close it out at half time’.”
Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz has been quite pleased with his team’s performance, although there were some shortcomings.
Shabazz told sports journalists, “Well, I’m happy for the result, but certainly not a game that we totally dominated. It was a hard- fought win, it was by no means an easy win, you know. In many parts of the game, it was actually a dog fight. So, we’re very, very happy to get the three points from this match.

“This is a team that is showing tremendous resilience. The areas where we lack quality, I think we certainly have heart, and we saw today where the legs gone but the heart still carried the team,” he declared.
When quizzed about what he thinks the team needs to work on, the Head Coach mentioned their defence, while also praising Leo Lovell’s efforts on the backline.
“We need to do a little better on defending at set plays, but when I look at the overall game, we’re certainly getting new twin towers in Quincy Adams and Jaylen. I can’t fault them too much, but we need to improve on dead ball situations in defence,” he said.
Shabazz continued, “I am so happy that they allowed me these warm-up matches, because we were able in these matches against Trinidad to see Leo play at right wing back, and he’s been playing at right wing back ever since.”
In encouraging the Guyanese fans to show up at Leonora on Saturday, Shabazz promised the full force of the Golden Jags outfit. He said, “We have tremendous respect for Haiti, but this is our doorstep, and we’ve got to deal with them on our doorstep. So, we’re going to get rested and recovered and come back. I’m confident that the spirit of the team has that fight to come and match the Haitians at home here.”
Also calling for crowd support was teenage sensation Omari Glasgow, who promised a better showing on Saturday.
“I think the fans at home expect a lot more from me, especially today, but I was a bit nervous, I’m not going to lie. I’m going to go back on the training pitch and work for Haiti on Saturday,” Glasgow shared.