EVER since England-based players Neil Danns and Matthew Briggs had signalled their intention to represent Guyana, head coach Jamaal Shabazz said he has seen a spike in players of high calibre, especially those based in England, wanting to don the colours of the ‘Golden Jaguars’. Briggs, who still holds the record for the youngest player to ever feature in the English Premier League (EPL) when he featured with Fulham FC, along with Danns, a stalwart midfield player in the Championship with Bolton Wanderers, has been on a recruiting drive since returning to England following the game against Grenada last month.

The pair created media frenzy both locally and in England, speaking profoundly of representing Guyana at the World Cup Qualifiers in June against St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as helping the Golden Jaguars reach the finals of the World’s biggest sporting event set for Russia in 2018.
“I’m pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm. Danns and Briggs and Chris Nurse have been doing a wonderful job in selling Guyana and selling the programme to these players out there.
“It’s exciting times for Guyana because for the fact that players from Europe could see the need to want to come here to identify with their roots; it’s saying something very profound,” Shabazz said.
In an article published on April 14, 2015 in one of England’s most reputable newspapers – The Guardian – Briggs pointed out that he believes Guyana “can put together a decent enough team to challenge for a World Cup place. Ryan Fredericks (of Tottenham) can play and he’s thinking about it, Callum Harriott (the Charlton winger) too. If we can get guys like this in and get football back up and running as it should be in Guyana, with the right training facilities, I don’t see why we can’t be successful”.
Cardiff City striker Nicky Maynard also recently announced that he would consider accepting a call-up to the Guyana national football team should Guyana seriously put forward an offer.
“It is an opportunity I would seriously consider and accept if I am approached to do so. Playing international football is a huge privilege, and it would be an honour to be involved in the World Cup Qualifiers.
“Once the paperwork is filled and I get a passport sorted out then that would be a day to rejoice and to represent Guyana,” Maynard said in an interview with Digicel SportsMax.
“We’ve been contacted by a series of players,” Shabazz confirmed during an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, and when asked to name a few, the Golden Jaguars head coach was reluctant, only stating, “they are in situations where they are closing their season and they don’t want their managers to think that they are not serious or focused on the tournament because you have some focusing on promotion and some fighting to not be relegated.”
According to Shabazz, he’s seen “enquiries from about four players in the Premiership and especially in the Championship. We’ve contacted a few more in the Premiership but the timing right now is not wise for me to say, but in two weeks’ time we’ll be in a better position. We don’t want to put them in an awkward position as well.”
Guyana will play St Vincent and the Grenadines in Round Two of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in June, in and a home-and-away series. Shabazz noted that moving ahead, along with his technical staff, they will very cautious of their approach to come up with the best possible team.
“We’re building a team where we’re very close to our final crew for June. The programme doesn’t only go until June.
“God forbid that if we lose against St Vincent, that’s just the qualifiers; we’re building a product called Guyana football. So, we wouldn’t be able to include everybody at one time or see all of them at one time, but we’ll find ways and means of getting friendlies in-between and guide them in ones and twos, without trying to disrupt the squad,” Shabazz said.

By Rawle Toney