THE Golden Jaguars football team on Tuesday afternoon began their preparations for the upcoming International Friendly against Suriname later this month.This comes as the squad continue their preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking with head coach of the national side, Jamaal Shabazz, it was disclosed that the game presents an opportunity for members of the squad.
The Trinidadian-born coach said, “This is an opportunity for the boys based locally to get some playing time against a strong Suriname team and it gives us the opportunity to widen the pool.”
He added, “It’s an opportune time to give more of the Guyana-based players the opportunity to play 60, 70, 90 minutes in international football.”
With the qualifiers drawing closer and several members of the team away on club duties, Shabazz believes his team have the camaraderie necessary to put forth a strong performance.
Shabazz mentioned: “This is the fact of life in world football now; the players are owned by clubs not by the national team, so you would always have limited time to prepare the team, but the fact that we’ve brought them over a period it means that a certain understanding is built.”
He continued by saying, “A certain camaraderie, a certain approach; and hopefully we will get them at least two weeks before the games in June and two weeks would be good for us.”
The Jaguars are coming off two wins in three games after a lengthy break.
They tackle St Vincent and the Grenadines as visitors on June 10 at the Arnos Vale Stadium then return home to battle at the Guyana National Stadium on June 14.
Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/opportune-time-for-local-based-players-coach-shabazz/