TONIGHT at the Guyana National Stadium, a sea of yellow is expected to flood the stands as the Golden Jaguars, Guyana’s Senior National football team, face off against St Lucia in their international friendly. Kick-off time is 19:30hrs and head coach Jamaal Shabazz said that his side will be cautious and he remains confident of a positive outcome.

Speaking on the composition of the squad, Shabazz pointed out that Guyanese will see some “of the familiar faces, except now that we at home we’re able to put in 23 players to reward everyone. I must say that I’m happy with work and commitment put in by the players”
Shabazz added that the game against St Lucia now gives his coaching and technical staff “an opportunity to really see where we are because Barbados were a younger team and fitter while St Lucia are a team of comparable ability. It will give us a clearer understanding of where we are in Caribbean football.”
Being the owner of Caledonia AIA; a professional team in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro-League, Shabazz is well aware of the ability of St Lucia players, some of whom earn their living competing in the Twin Island Republic.
“We know this team, some of our players know them too, so we have a fair idea of them and likewise they know some of our guys as well. I think the Pro-league players give them a good boost and make the meeting with them more interesting. Certainly this is going to be a fierce battle because they are very athletic and very aggressive,” Shabazz told Chronicle Sport.
Asked if he considers the game to be a “must win”, Shabazz said that he’s in no way pressured to come out with a positive result, noting, “we certainly want to get a very good result because at the end of the day, we want to build a momentum, but it’s early days yet and in building the programme there will be obvious weaknesses and strengths that will be brought out in games like these.”
St Lucia had defeated Guyana 2-0 last year in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Championship when then-coach Denzil Thompson fielded a team of 18 debutants; a move that was highly criticised by many.
The game tonight marks the return of International football to Guyana and the National Stadium for the first time since Guyana lost 3-2 to El Salvador on September 11, 2012 during their CONCACAF Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
According to recent rankings by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), St Lucia sit at 132 while Guyana are placed 166.
Christopher Nurse will once again wear the armband for the Golden Jaguars and will be joined by goalkeepers Derrick Carter (Western Tigers), defenders Jamal Smith (Canada) Dwain Jacobs (Slingerz FC), Colin Nelson (Slingerz FC), Joshua Browne (Slingerz FC), King Solomon Austin (Slingerz FC), Les Charles Critchlow (Slingerz FC), Daniel Whyte (Canada), Eon Alleyne (GDF), Vurlon Mills (Slingerz FC), Clive Nobrega (Slingerz FC), Calvin Shepherd (Alpha United), Jermine Junor (Fruta Conquerors), Konata Manning (Pele FC), Brandon Beresford (USA) and forwards Sheldon Holder (Alpha United), Manasseh Primo (Alpha United), Emery Welshman (Real Monarchs) and Daniel Wilson (Alpha United).

By Rawle Toney