IT WAS the end of the longest serving careers with the Guyana senior men’s national football selection –Golden Jaguars – as coach Jamal Shabazz and defender Walter Moore officially announced to the media after Tuesday night’s game versus Jamaica that they have decided to call it a day.The 32-year-old Moore had a rather inauspicious end to a career that makes him the first and only Guyanese player with 100 appearances. In his final outing as a Jaguar he was instantly red-carded for a dangerous tackle in the 68th minute with Guyana leading Jamaica 2-1. Moore who plays for Finnish club FF Jaro FC represented his country at all levels and ended with a record 103 international caps for Guyana’s senior national football team.
Moore, who started at the GFC before moving to Fruta Conquerors then to the T&T pro league, has been representing the Jaguars since 2009 and feels this is the right time to move on.
“I think this is the right time for me to step away from Guyana’s national football. It’s been a pleasure to play for Guyana and I will always have love for Guyana, but now it’s time for me to focus on my professional career. Stepping away from the national team doesn’t mean that I will turn my back on Guyana. I am still committed to helping the youngsters gain opportunities in Europe and other places. It’s been a very good journey for me, but unfortunately, like every good journey, it must come to an end,” Moore said.
The Finland-based Moore who left the country early yesterday morning has two more games with his club, after which he plans to have a vacation with his family before deciding on his future professional career.
“I got a few offers from Kazakstan, India and my old club in Finland. Through my agent we’ll figure out what’s next and what’s best for me. I want to say thank you Guyana for everything. Thanks for all the fan-support, the die-hard support. I am going to miss you guys, God bless,” Moore shared in his parting words.
Meanwhile, at the post-game press conference coach Shabazz, when asked if it was his last game in charge of the Golden Jaguars, told the media that it definitely was the final game for him.
“It will be premature for me to say I go today. I have to give the respect to the Federation and see how we can work because they have respected my contract, especially the new Administration and I must give them that respect as well. My desire is to leave in the shortest possible time,” Shabazz exclaimed.
“I have given ten years of my life and have become Guyanese. It took a tremendous sacrifice … I realise that I don’t have to be national coach to contribute to the Guyana development. I, however, would want to sit, because I have a contract, with the Administrators, and work a good way so that I can go. Some would be happy, some would be sad, but this is life. I feel that now we have come to the end. We have a new Technical Director, and maybe the time has come for someone with fresh ideas and a fresh spirit,” Shabazz explained.
The Trinbagonian, during the decade he has been at the helm of the Jaguars guided the team to two Caribbean Cup finals as well as the semi-final round of CONCACAF’s World Cup qualifiers for the 2014 finals, the biggest achievement for the country in World Cup history which began for Guyana in 1976.
Shabazz’ two-year contract which he signed early last year with the-then Normalisation Committee expires early next year.