TRINIDAD and Tobago Pro-League side Caledonia AIA strengthened its roster for the upcoming season and the CONCACAF Champions League with the signing of 25-year-old Canadian-born Guyanese defender Jamaal Smith. According to Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz, his club is delighted in having the lanky defender on its roster and boasted of his high work ethics, having coached him while he was with the Guyana National Football Team when Smith was a member of the FIFA Brazil World Cup Qualifiers squad.
“He brings sound tactical awareness and discipline to our defence having played in Europe (Sweden – Syrianska FC) and so far we are all impressed at how well he has blended with the team,” Shabazz noted.
Meanwhile, Smith said that he’s happy to be a part of Caledonia and more so to be coached by Shabazz, adding, “I feel at home already, the players are very welcoming and Caledonia is a very professional side. I must say that most of all, I’m elated to be coached by Mr Shabazz again, having learnt so much from him while with the Guyana National Team, so I’m ready to just put that shirt on and play.”
In his first outing for the club during a practice game last Sunday, Smith was inspirational in Caledonia’s victory over Chia Sabana Norte, where he headed home one of the three goals of the game that saw the Trinidadian side winning 3-0.