THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will introduce the country’s new Technical Director (TD) on Saturday, January 10, according to Chairman of the Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling. 

Chronicle Sport received information from a credible source that US-based Guyanese Claude Bolton will be making his return to the country’s football following stints under former beleaguered GFF president Colin Klass.
Asked to validate the information given by the source, Urling, responding to an email sent by this publication, only stated “We will host a press conference on Saturday, January 10 to introduce our ‎TD. All questions will be answered then.”
It was also rumoured that Guyana’s most successful technical director; Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz will serve under Bolton as head coach and Alpha United’s Wayne Dover as his assistant.
Guyana will oppose Barbados on January 25 in the Land of Flying Fish and as such, a squad was called into training, including several overseas players.
It is rumoured that Bolton will work with Shabazz and, when contacted yesterday via email, the Trinidadian said, “At the moment I cannot confirm or deny that anything is final with me at the GFF or the Normalisation Committee. In this regard I cannot comment but you will know once things are finalised and announced by the Normalisation Committee.”
If confirmed, it will be Shabazz’s third stint with Guyana’s Golden Jaguars; the same team he led to a historic World Ranking of 90 and also to the second round of the FIFA Brazil World Cup qualifiers.
Bolton is a Chartered Professional and brings with him over a decade of professional coaching experience.
He (Bolton) is among those that have achieved some of the highest certification levels in North America, holding National ‘A’, Goalkeeping, Fitness, and Youth licences from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and also holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Advanced Youth Certificate.
Since the exit of Shabazz, considered as the most successful technical director, Guyana sank into oblivion and fell by the wayside on the international football circuit.
Canada-based Guyanese Mark Rodrigues was appointed as technical director under the FIFA-disbanded, Christopher Matthias-led GFF but when that administration was disbanded, Urling hit the reset button on the country’s football, breathing fresh air into the sport.
Meanwhile, a leaked squad went viral and when contacted; several administrators from the various clubs confirmed the composition of the team.
Considered one of Guyana’s most successful captains and Fort Lauderdale Strikers central midfielder, Chris Nurse is expected to feature for the Jaguars after a two-year hiatus, along with his historic Jaguars teammates Trayon Bobb, Dwain Jacobs, goalkeeper Derick Carter, defender Colin Nelson and Canada-based Jamaal Smith.
Others called are Alpha United’s Chris Comacho, Daniel Wilson and Sheldon Holder, Slingerz FC’s Tichard Joseph, Jason Cromwell, Clive De Nobrega and Joshua Brown.
Caledonia’s AIA winger Pernell Shultz, Amos Ramsay (Riddim Squad), Travis Henry (Monedderlust), Eusi Phillips (GDF), Keiron Solomon (GFC), Reshawn Sandiford (Sunburst Camptown), Trevon Lythcott (Fruta Conquerors), Adrian Butters and Solomon Austin (Western Tigers).
The final team will be named on January 21 and will depart for Barbados on January 23 ahead of their clash two days later.

(By Rawle Toney)