Shabazz says Guyana victory over Barbados a good start
SPECTATORS at the Guyana National Stadium witnessed the home team Golden Jaguars score an impressive 2–0 victory over Caribbean rivals Barbados on Friday night, but according to head coach of the winning team Jamal Shabazz, it was a good start but far from the truth.
Speaking to Shabazz following the victory, the coach said: “It was a battle; there were fierce contests for long periods but I think in the end there was a little more quality on our end. We created a lot of chances and I think we were fortunate to take them.”
He continued by saying, “We were unfortunate with one and two calls (referee); I think generally we created a lot of chances and we should have finished a lot better.” Guyana lacked numerous opportunities to further extend their goal aggregate throughout the entire match while still playing against some questionable calls by the linesmen.
“We have a lot of work to do; this is way off from where we want to play – we developed our line on intensity but the fitness level has got to improve and the general cohesion needs to improve but it was a good start but far away from the truth” Shabazz stated.
JP Rodrigues who is out of the Jaguars side with an injury for their first two games in Group Two may make a return for the encounter in October against the Soca Warriors.
Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard – ‘The Ultimate Patriot’, according to Shabazz was called at the last moment to fill in for Rodrigues and once again did a terrific job in the centre back position.
Guyana next face Bermuda, who lost to Trinidad and Tobago 0–1 on Friday and Shabazz and his charges are eager to come out fast and hard on the day of reckoning, not batting an eyelid to the slim margin that Bermuda lost to the Caribbean football giants.
“Right now we are more focused on what is – which is moulding the team; forming a marriage between the young talent such as Treon Bobb and the veteran players, such as Pollard.”
The match on Friday saw Jaguars display that they were the stronger, faster, more organised team, as they controlled the entire match with ball possession and continuously attacked the opposition to come out on top.
While Barbados struggled to put passes together, they had to be stern in their defence to keep the Jaguars at bay but with Shawn Beveney, Gregory Richardson and Chris Bourne striking, the Barbados defenders grew weary thus causing their goalkeeper to be exposed on numerous occasions.
Beveney drew first blood for Guyana in the 25th minute, clinically finishing past the goalkeeper after receiving a terrific ball from Richardson on top of the Barbados 18-yard.
Guyana, on the end of some stiff offside calls from the linesmen, still managed to create a wealth of opportunities to score but could not find the final touch when it was needed.
The second half saw Guyana double their lead in the 75th minute from a corner kick, which found Pollard, who finished with a marvellous header.