COACH of the Golden Jaguars national football team, Jamaal Shabazz, is unfazed about comments made by Alpha United  boss Odinga Lumumba about using more local-based players in the World Cup Qualifiers.
“Listen, we do not need these distractions at this time. Suddenly I expect everyone to be an expert on team issues.
“Who plays for Guyana is the decision of the head coach and his staff, stated Shabazz.
“There are no local or foreign player issues on this team. As far as we are concerned the Guyana National team is for Guyanese no matter if they were born in Bartica or Spain,”
Shabazz praised Lumumba for the role he has played in helping “this Guyana team” and commended him on his overall
contribution to the game.
“I have full respect for Brother Lumumba and he is an important stakeholder in Guyana football, but selection issues fall under me, stated Shabazz.
“We all made tremendous to efforts get this far but we must respect each other’s role.
“We treat players fairly and they must earn their place on merit not on whether they are foreign- or local-based.
“To wear this Guyana shirt a player has got to earn it,” emphasised Shabazz who is coming up against his country Trinidad and Tobago in the Qualifiers.
On the issue of a full-time role for coach Wayne Dover, Shabazz was in agreement with Lumumba.
“Dover is my brother, my equal and part of the reason I returned to the Guyana Team. He and Collie Hercules are the ones responsible for the foundation of this success and we work as a united force.
“There are a lot of things that have got to change for Guyana to progress in the way it should. And we need to have full-time coaches but we also need a collective effort from Government and Corporate Guyana to join with the GFF and other stakeholders, for this to happen.
“The Government and Corporate Guyana are showing a willingness to come aboard and we are putting our best foot forward to create a team that will do Guyana proud. Our time has come, we must unite and seize the moment now,” ended Shabazz.