Shabazz “proud” of investment paying off

…as Slingerz claim Elite League title early

With two games to spare, the identity of the champions of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League 2025 season is by now no secret. With a dominant 10-1 victory against Monedderlust FC on Saturday night, Slingerz Football Club sealed victory in the seventh season of the League, in the second year since their return.

Slingerz’s onslaught at the GFF’s National Training Centre (NTC) on Saturday began with Derrel Garcia chipping the ball into the right corner of the net for the opening goal in the 19th minute. Nicholai Andrews sneaked one past the keeper three minutes later to push the score to 2-0 while Kemar Beckford made it a 3-0 affair by the 31st.

While Monedderlust’s chances at a proper defence were hindered when their first-string keeper was issued a red card, both Garcia (19th, 74th) and Beckford (31st, 35th) registered braces while Darron Niles produced a hat-trick in the 40th, 55th and 56th minutes. Alongside solitary strikes off the boots of Curtez Kellman (82nd) and Jean-Heim McFee (86th), Slingerz FC stamped their authority over their familiar foes. In the final minute of regulation time, Niron Thom managed to pull one back for Monedderlust.
In the aftermath, Slingerz Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz told Guyana Times Sport that it was important for the side to justify their investment this season, though it did come with some struggles.
Shabazz said, “I think it was important to justify the investment in bringing me in and bringing in some players. It was important to win the League and even win the League with two games to spare is a justification of the investment and seriousness Slingerz has shown as a club to take themselves to the next level.
“I think definitely, the guys worked very hard. It was a difficult first two months, the guys having to adjust to the strict discipline, the tactical moves that we worked on, but now, we see a team that has gelled, that has become really, really united and that are playing for each other. I’m really, really proud of the guys for the type of effort that they make, the kind of sacrifices. It’s easy to say you have the best players and because you have the best players, you should win. In world football, we know everything is on the day and how you manage your crew and I’m really proud of the guys today.”
Quizzed about the remaining two games against the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force, Shabazz noted how important it was to end unbeaten while still giving chances to young players.
“We have to show that we want to take it to the end, playing Police and GDF. At the same time, we want to give some opportunity for some players who’ve been competing and not been starting, so it’s a mixture. We will play a strong team, because we gotta continue to train and give respect to the League, but also, we want to put in some fresh legs who’ve been knocking on the door to keep them motivated and keep them fighting,” the Slingerz gaffer shared with this publication.
In other Elite League action over the weekend, Ann’s Grove United, also competing on Saturday, downed Mainstay Goldstar FC 5-2.
Niron Jerrick opened the scoring for Ann’s Grove in the ninth minute while Jaden Vangronigen extended their lead in the 15th for a 2-0 score at halftime. Damion Lynch responded for Mainstay after the break in the 63rd minute, but Jamaine Samuels put the thought of a comeback out of their minds with a brace in the 71st and 84th. Shuaib Berkshire accounted for Ann’s Grove’s fifth in the 86th while Calvin Richmond was responsible for Mainstay’s other goal in the 90th+3.
On Sunday, a Jomal Robinson goal in the 63rd helped Den Amstel needle Fruta Conquerors 1-0. Another low-scoring encounter followed as Colin Nelson and Abumuchi Opara netted for GDF in their ensuing 2-0 defeat of Santos FC.
The League is set to continue this weekend at the same venue.