Shabazz confident that Jags can turn tables on Haiti today
Guyana’s Senior Men’s National football team, after their dismal performance on Saturday last, will now need to win their contest against Haiti today, if they are to finish at the top of Group B in league B of the CONCACAF Nations League, thus qualifying directly for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Although Haiti already took the Golden Jaguars through the mud, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz believes his troops have what it takes to turn the tables this evening.
A snippet from Saturday’s matche up against Haiti
What was a must-win match for Guyana turned into a nightmare as Haiti’s Simonsen Jeppe Friborg, Steeven Saba, Carnejy Antoine and Derrick Etienne Jr sent home 5 goals in the first half.
While Fredler Christophe brought Haiti’s tally up to 6 in the second half, Nathan Moriah- Welsh and Emery Welshman were the only tow who were able to score for Guyana.
Sharing an assessment of the game, Coach Shabazz admitted that the chances of a win evaded the Golden Jaguars too early, but they still fought to keep the scoring down in the second.
“Certainly not the result we wanted, I think we succumb to one long ball down the middle and take 45 minutes to adjust to it. Of course, we had experienced players on the pitch but they could not have negotiated in the way that we would have liked,” Shabazz said.
He went on to add, “Even as this game is finished, we have people like Torell Ondaan and Stephen Duke- McKenna who were injured out for this game, ready and saying they’re ready for the return. It’s really about spirit, our team has the spirit.”
Turning his attention to Haiti’s home game against Guyana today, which will be played in their (Haiti’s) neighbouring Dominican Republic, Shabazz remained optimistic that the Jags can bounce bac, describing the impending clash as a ‘test of character’.
Shabazz explained, “We could regroup cause we still have that spirit and we’re going to meet them again. It’s going to be tough but we go forward with courage and we go forward with confidence, its two games, we meet them again on Tuesday and hopefully, we will see something more special from us.”
The Golden Jaguars Head Coach further stated, “This will test our character to see what we are made up of. Being slaughtered at home and then going to Santo Domingo and rebound, I can only say that on behalf of the team, that we going there to battle and see how we can redeem ourselves,”
The Golden Jags will take on the Grenadiers at 6pm local time today, Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
