Golden Jaguars player Samuel Cox has adjusted to his role in the senior men’s national football team, and is ready to perform his role to the best of his ability in order to see the team achieve success.
Samuel Cox, captain of the Golden Jaguars
Cox is a part of a 31-member Golden Jaguars team in Trinidad and Tobago preparing for the commencement of the CONCACAF Nations’ League this weekend. “It’s been brilliant for those local players who have had the opportunity to work back again with Jamaal Shabazz, whose been enthusiastic and shown his eagerness to improve the roster of players that we have locally,” Cox said while speaking about his return to the National team set-up.
The midfielder also discussed his seniority in the team and his eagerness to take up the leadership role. Cox had this to say: “Being in the programme now for the last 7 years, I’ve seen the ups, I’ve seen the downs. I’d like to think that my experience now could have a positive effect on those younger players that are new to the programme.
“Some of those that are emerging young talents locally and overseas, hopefully I can guide and provide a voice that offers almost like a big brother-type of perspective. That’s where I see myself now, and still being able to do my bit on the grass,” he explained.
Cox has opined that he could also assist the local team in the coaching department, given his recent stints abroad. “I think I could offer a voice with the coaching staff too. Any assistance I could be, trying to help the programme and these younger players and the existing older players, that’s my job as a captain,” he said. “I’ve always seen myself as doing that,” he added.
Turning his attention to Guyana’s upcoming international fixtures for the Nation’s League, Cox readily admitted that Guyana’s opponents would be difficult to beat, but revealed a formula that could get the Golden Jaguars over the hurdle.
“I think we know the opposition that we’re up against. Obviously, Montserrat have a lot of England-based players that play in the leagues over here. So, we know that’s going to be a tough challenge, almost like a hybrid of a Caribbean/ English type fixture,” he said.
“We know what Haiti possesses as well. Have a lot of players playing out in South America and in America. We’ve got three really tough opponents that we’re coming against. It’s just about preparing the boys mentally, making sure they can deal with the psychological demands; then its physical, tactical, technical demands as well,” he concluded his analysis.
After Guyana play their opening game this Saturday (June 4) in the Dominican Republic, the team would head home for two matches at the Leonora Stadium on June 4, and 7, against Bermuda and Haiti respectively. For the fourth game, the Golden Jags would return to the Dominican Republic to play Haiti again on June 14.
