Speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Minister Anthony said that Guyana’s football team could not have asked for a better leader, though he (Shabazz) was of Trinidadian decent, he showed that his heart was Guyanese.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Guyana, I would like to say thank you to Mr. Shabazz for a job well done. Of course things had its up and downs but he was able to take this country to new heights in the sport; places where we have never gone and he did so sometimes with little resources,” said Anthony.
Minister Anthony reflected on Shabazz’s humble personality but most importantly his dedication to Guyana’s football during his tenure as Technical Director.
“Anyone could’ve seen that he really had put his all into his job and the fact the players all respected and looked up to him, speaks volume as to what kind of individual he is,” the minister lamented.
Meanwhile, Anthony also touched on the ongoing dispute being the GFF and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) as well as the stand taken by members of the Golden Jaguars.
“I honestly believe that it’s failure in the administration that is bringing the game to dispute because I brought the GFF and the GFA together for a meeting where I tried to get them to iron things out without putting the game at jeopardy and then it ended up in court because someone wasn’t willing to give into a few things, so government did try to resolve things amicably but there’s little that we can do at this point,” said Minister Anthony.
As it relates to the recent outcry from the players of the National team, the Minister said that his doors are open for talks with the players but he’s yet to receive an official letter of complaint, informing him of what’s going on other than what is being reported in the local and international media.
“My doors are always open, but up to this point as it relates to the players, I’m just reading stuff in the newspapers and on the internet; no one has penned me a letter to the effect where my intervention is sought, but I’m willing because football is an important sport in this country and its sad to see the direction it is heading because in the end, it’s the players who all suffer” the Sports Minister exclaimed.
The long standing Sports Minister went on to state that “FIFA should intervene, I think that by now all that’s happening as it relates to Football in Guyana should’ve gotten their attention and they can send an official or officials down here to iron things out. It’s about time the impasse ends and the game gets back to normal. Again I say that I’m willing to work with the officials and even players to work things out but we cannot continue like this.”
