Shabazz calls for support as Golden Jags depart for Nations League

Guyana’s senior men’s national football team the Golden Jaguars have departed local shores en route to Trinidad and Tobago, where they will link up with their overseas-based players before getting into a week’s training in that twin-island republic.

After their training and two friendly games in Trinidad, the Golden Jags will travel to the Dominican Republic, where they will commence their CONCACAF Nations League Campaign on June 4 against Montserrat.
As the team gets ready for these international assignments, Head Coach Jamal Shabazz has remained quite optimistic about the Golden Jaguars’ chances of topping Group B in order to qualify for the Gold Cup, but maintains that the team is in need of moral support from the diaspora.
In fact, the Head Coach is not taking lightly to the critics as he calls for Guyana’s support of the team.
“While some people, on social media especially, are afraid for us to aspire, we have a commitment to the country to visualise where we want to go, take the action steps, and make the commitment to get there. It’s going to be tough, but if we do it together as a nation, we would find the journey could be very rewarding,” Shabazz has cautioned last week.
“The emotional pain and the joy is all part of a journey that we must accept as a people,” he said.
On the matter of the team’s mindset, Shabazz disclosed that the 31-member outfit is ready to put in the work necessary for Guyana’s success. Shabazz shared, “Based on the group feeling, 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 sacrifice. So, where we lack in resources, we certainly want to make up with the right attitude and a sensible and committed approach.”
Turning to his personal beliefs, the Head Coach expressed immense confidence in the Golden Jags’ chances.
“I feel that we will not be out of our league on the same field with Haiti, with Bermuda, with Montserrat; though, given what has happened in the past, they obviously start with a certain amount of rank over us. But at the end of the day, they meet us on the pitch, and that’s where it will be decided,” Shabazz concluded.
The 31-member Golden Jaguars team will be cut down to 26 members prior to commencement of the tournament. After their first game in the Dominican Republic, the Golden Jags will return to Guyana for two home games, on June 7 and 11 against Bermuda and Haiti respectively. They will then return to the DR for the final away game, wherein they oppose Haiti on June 15.