Shabazz shares recipe for boosting Golden Jags’ rankings

…Guyanese/former players will have a part in support staff

Currently ranked at 174th in the World, there is much for Guyana’s senior men’s national football team, the Golden Jaguars, to do if they are to return to the glory days.

Many of those glory days were witnessed under the leadership of Jamaal Shabazz, who has again taken up the mantle of coaching this team.
Upon his appointment to the post of Head Coach, Shabazz was quizzed about what he thinks is necessary to give the Golden Jaguars a boost in the FIFA World Rankings. Shabazz presented a long list, some of the highlights including player and staff development.
“I think most important is developing mature international players by giving international exposure to them; by helping them become professionals, whether it’s in the local league, you know, going to another level. And also, getting the special ones to go outside of the Caribbean to play at a higher level,” the recently appointed Head Coach said.
“All that will be part of developing mature international players. I know we come to make this argument about local and foreign, but on the pitch it’s really professional and amateur, and we have got to see that as a critical step in achieving our objective.”
In presenting another point, he opined, “And while we welcome the technology from all over the world, because the world has become a global village, we need to develop our coaches, our physiotherapists, our trainers, and bring them up to the level; and that requires time, it requires having top people who can mentor them.”
Shabazz has voiced his admiration for the transformation of the systems used within the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), praising them for acquiring the essential resources.
The four-time Head Coach shared with a laugh, “Of course, the proper use of modern technology. I was pleasantly surprised, and I said, ‘Mr. Forde, we have to get this’. He said, ‘Coach Shabazz, we have that’.
“It shows that the thinking of the GFF is one, moving from we participating in competitions to now competing. So, the technology, the exposure for the international players, the staff development,” Shabazz said, circling back to the initial question.
The new Head Coach also gave a glimpse of what’s to be expected in the composition of his coaching staff, affirming that there is a place for Guyanese as he looks to blend international experience and training others.
“Yes, there’s a place, and not just for the players who are living and residing in Guyana. And Walter Moore is a perfect example, he is living in Finland,” Shabazz answered when asked what his support staff would look like.
“I think it’s a remarkable thing and a good moment with what has been going on for the Football Federation in training coaches. The work of the Technical Director and the Technical Department is helping these guys transition from ex-players to coaches. And of course we want to use them, and in time we sit and look at competencies and how we can bring them up. So, it’s a kind of two-fold thing,” he added.
As he continued explaining his reason, the Head Coach said, “We want to get a staff with some international expertise, like we have Mr. Toldedo. But we also want to get 12-15 people who can learn from him, so that in time to come they can assume the situation.”