“The team will select itself” – Shabazz says about XI to face Grenada

Guyana’s senior men’s national football team the Golden Jaguars will embark on their Gold Cup 2023 campaign tomorrow as they take on Grenada’s Spice Boys at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Though physically absent from proceedings in Florida, Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz is content with the work the team have put in thus far. The Head Coach shared in a media briefing on Thursday, “I felt the players could’ve come in with more, but we had to appreciate that, particularly the boys coming out of the UK, they had a long season and they had to get some rest and some vacation. That being said, having seen all the sessions on video, I think they guys have pushed, they’ve worked hard.
“We still have some niggles and knocks, so I feel that we’re still 2-3 away from what could be the performance that we really want.

“So, it’s a work in progress. They guys have accepted the challenge; everybody seems to be pushing and giving of their best. Of course, it’s a competitive environment and everybody wants to be in the starting team,” Shabazz added.
With the 23-man squad already determined, focus is now shifted to the starting XI that would kick off Guyana’s campaign against Grenada. On this topic, the Head Coach said discussions surrounding the XI have been had, but the team essentially selects itself.
“We discussed some things on a broader base circling around 13-14 players, but when it comes down to crunch time, I think we’re not far away,” Shabazz noted. The Golden Jags Head Coach went on to state, “We like to say that the team selects itself, and it really does, based on attitude, based on motivation, based on injury, based on form, based on tactics. You know, all those things end up in the pot, and somehow or the other it selects itself; and we like the headache that we have.

“We’re happy for the inclusion of the last three players to come in: Marcus Simmons, Jonny Grant and Omari Glasgow, and we’re happy with the work that skipper Sam Cox and some of the senior guys have done,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assistant Coach Wayne Dover, who is with the team, highlighted the importance of the Shabazz input in the selection.
“We do our diligence in terms of how we assess the players, both physical and health- wise, as well as the tactics; and all of our assessments, we sat together daily and we take it to the Head Coach, who would’ve been appraised daily as to what is the situation,” Dover expressed.
The Assistant Coach further stated, “Hence the reason, I’m still saying to the public that he is integral in this whole process of team selection and first-eleven selection. So, his physical presence is one thing, but he’s still present here.”
The Golden Jaguars will look horns with the Spice Boys from 21:00hrs on Saturday for a chance to inch closer to the Gold Cup group stage. Should they come out successful from that encounter, they will go on to face the winner of an Antigua vs Guadeloupe clash, in order to seal a Gold Cup Group spot. (Jemima Holmes)