Shabazz is out!: GFF fires national team’s head coach

Two days after telling media operatives that discussions were still ongoing regarding the fate of Senior Men’s National Football Team Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz’s job, it appears as though the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have come to a swift conclusion, revealing that they have ended contractual engagements with Shabazz.
Earlier this week, when proverbially facing the music, GFF President Wayne Forde divulged that contrary to rumours of the Federation asking Shabazz to resign following the Golden Jaguars’ less-than-stellar debut in League A of the CONCACAF Nations League, discussions were still ongoing on the way forward for the national team’s leadership.
“I’m not going to comment on that. Again, we’re seeing that sources are clearly giving themselves a lot of liberty. What I would say is as much as that there are ongoing discussions between the GFF leadership and Coach Shabazz, and once we have a final resolution to those discussions, the GFF will do what we always do: make a very clear and responsible statement,” Forde related during an interview on Monday.

The GFF President had added, “But if I can close by saying that Coach Jamaal Shabazz has done a fantastic job with the Golden Jaguars, he was able to run unbeaten in 2023 and brought us to League A. Clearly, the team did not perform to its potential; we know this and we’re having discussions.”
However, exactly as Forde illustrated days prior, on Thursday afternoon, the Federation confirmed in a statement that Shabazz had been fired. That statement reads, “The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) wishes to announce that it has ended its contractual engagement with Mr. Jamaal Shabazz, Head Coach of the Guyana Golden Jaguars, the national senior men’s football team.
“Under Coach Shabazz’s leadership, the Golden Jaguars reached significant milestones that will resonate for years to come. His tenure saw the team earning promotion from League B to League A in the CONCACAF Nations League, among other achievements that have elevated Guyana’s football reputation regionally and internationally.
“The GFF extends heartfelt gratitude to Coach Shabazz for his dedication, professionalism, and tireless commitment to advancing Guyana’s football. His work has not only strengthened the national team, but has also inspired countless young players and fans across the country.
“Looking ahead, the GFF is dedicated to building upon the foundation laid during Coach Shabazz’s tenure. We are actively seeking new leadership to guide the Golden Jaguars towards achieving our established goals in the next phase of the programme.”
While no information has been forthcoming from the GFF regarding the future leadership of the country’s national team, this publication has learned that Assistant Coach Wayne Dover has been leading the players in training as they prepare for the CONCACAF Nations League Play-Ins later this month.
Guyana will face Barbados in home-and-away games on November 19th and 15th respectively, vying for a chance to seal a spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 preliminaries.