… local based players need more work –  Head Coach Shabazz
“THE Guyana-based players must get fitter if they are to stand any chance of playing in the Qualifiers, says head coach of the Guyana National Team, Jamaal Shabazz.
This was his reaction after the squad of local-based Jaguars went down 2-1 to a Tobago All Star Team at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on Tuesday. After 10 minutes Guyana were down 2-nil following two defensive errors by Kris Camacho which resulted in the Tobago team netting twice, much to the delight of the Tobago crowd.
Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams pulled one back for Guyana in the 23rd minute but the interval came with Tobago still holding on to the lead 2-1.
Konata ‘Nata’ Mannings was introduced in the 2nd half for Camacho and Andrew Murray replaced Pele’s Sheldon Holder. ‘Nata’ was easily the best player in the game but even his fitness is far from what is needed for the Qualifiers, stated Shabazz.
Shabazz did point to several positives coming out of the match, and singled out Konata Mannings along with teenagers Colin Nelson, Trayon Bobb and Fruta Conquerors’ Pernel Schultz as “giving a very good account of themselves”.
Focusing on today’s game against the Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 Olympic Team, Shabazz said: “This will be an even greater test for the local-based players. Because the T&T U-23s are a fit, talented and very organised bunch.
“The only way these youngsters can develop is by playing in these matches and learning from the experience, he added.
The Guyana versus T&T game kicks off at 18:00hrs at the Dwight Yorke Stadium. Several of the T&T-based Guyana players, including elder statesman Charles Pollard and Kayode ‘the magician’ McKinnon, are expected to witness the game.