BASKING in optimism for success on Sunday, February 1, the Golden Jaguars, Guyana’s senior National football team will depart today for Barbados where they will play the island’s National unit in an international friendly at the Barbados National Stadium. The Guyanese, behind head coach Jamaal Shabazz are hoping to use Sunday’s game as a catalyst for a productive 2015 on the pitch.

Christopher Nurse, who is considered one of the country’s most successful captains, will once again be given the hand band against the ‘Bajans’ while Canadian Emery Welshman will have his first International cap after being selected in the 18-man squad.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Pro-League side Central FC goalkeeper Akel Clarke and Derrick Carter are the chosen custodians while the defence will be managed by Solomon Austin (Western Tigers), Jamaal Smith (Caledonia AIA), Colin Nelson (Slingerz FC), Kris Camacho (Alpha United), Joshua Brown (Slingerz FC) and Dwain Jacobs (Slingerz FC).
Trayon Bobb (Caledonia AIA), Daniel Wilson (Alpha United), Vurlon Mills (Slingerz FC), Eusi Phillips (GDF), Calvin Shepherd (Slingerz FC) and Clive Nobrega (Slingerz) FC along with Nurse are the midfield players.
Welshman, the former Toronto FC forward, is joined by Alpha United’s Sheldon Holder and Caledonia AIA’s Pernell Schultz.
“We selected the players who we thought are more match-ready in terms of fitness and the ones who would adapt to the tactics given the short period. It’s a good blend of youth and experience with more than half the squad under 25. At this point there are no more foreign or local players. The selected squad is in fact the Guyana National Team,” Shabazz said, speaking on the team’s selection.
Shabazz, who was at the helm of Guyana’s football during its most successful period, further lauded the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee, who, he said, “ensured all the players were paid their per diem stipends before they left camp. This is a huge sign of their commitment to players’ welfare and professional approach. The unity and togetherness shown by the players during the camp made it impossible to tell who was foreign-born, foreign-based or local-based”.
Meanwhile, the Trinidadian reaffirmed the game against Barbados holds relevance, noting “the game will reveal the truth about where Guyana football is at the moment. Because of the heights we want to take Guyana football to we need to keep it real as to where we are right now”.
With Guyana also in World Cup preparation mode, Shabazz believes “the Barbados game will not lie, it will tell the truth in the results and the score line. The Guyana public is tired of deception and spinners of the truth. Before we can go anywhere we first got to know where we are. This game on Sunday will tell us that”.