Slingerz players excited about Shabazz possibility

Players at Slingerz Football Club are buzzing with excitement over the possibility of Jamaal Shabazz signing for the club, and several of the club’s key players have eagerly vented their anticipation that the deal would happen.
Slingerz midfielder Curtez Kellman explained, “It’s a great feeling to have the opportunity to reconnect with Coach Shabazz. It’s just what we need at Slingerz heading into a new season. I think he will drive the players to achieve their personal and team goals.”

Kellman has had an outstanding Elite League season last year, and has become a fixture as a starter on the Guyana national team. Reflecting on his time under Shabazz in the national team, Kellman said, “Working with Coach Shabazz helped me to be more versatile and open to playing more than one position”.
Slingerz Utility player Leo Lovell, who won a house lot as MVP of the ‘One Guyana’ President’s Cup in 2023 as mainly an attacking midfielder, has echoed similar sentiments. Shabazz had converted him into a wingback for the Golden Jaguars, and he also has become a fixture on the Guyana national team, the Golden Jags.
Speaking about how he has been transformed as a player, Lovell stated, “Coach Shabazz played a pivotal role in me becoming a more versatile player. He even sent me to do medical tests to detect certain deficiencies in my energy levels. His attention to those details improved both my energy levels and understanding of the game.”

Slingerz FC skipper and goalkeeper, Akel Clarke, feels that acquisition of Shabazz is ideal for the club’s vision.
“Coach Shabazz is about the holistic development of the player on and off the field. He wants to know what you eat, what you want to achieve in life, he insists on us becoming more responsible young men, he connects well with the players; yet, he is very demanding and insists on discipline and commitment,” stated Clarke. “Even while I am playing now, he is pushing me to seek my coaching licence and encourages me to think about life after football.”

The veteran goalkeeper also felt the presence of Shabazz would be beneficial to the entire league, and not just Slingerz. “His knowledge and experience will also help build the league into something far better than it is currently, since he is never afraid (to give) his views on how to improve Guyana’s football.”