By Stephan Sookram

WITH the days quickly diminishing for the Golden Jaguars’ friendly encounter against Suriname, head coach Jamaal Shabazz has dubbed the game a ‘litmus test’ for the country’s players and by extension the recently commenced STAG Elite League.Shabazz, speaking to Chronicle Sport during a training session yesterday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground, contended that Sunday’s game at the Guyana National Stadium against the Dutch will show exactly where the locals need work and where they have been advancing.
“We (are) playing at home and this game really is to test the local players who have been playing in the Elite league and to evaluate where we are and what we need in the squad; what are our strengths and our weaknesses and only playing a game against Suriname would tell us that,” contended the Trinidadian.
Slingerz FC enjoyed the fruits of their labour by beating arch rivals Alpha United in the Genesis stage of the tournament and Shabazz feels that the year-round Guyana Football Federation-organised tournament may be fulfilling its purpose.
“The guys have been doing their fitness work with the clubs. They come in at a decent level and with only one game under their belt in the new season of the Elite league, but I’ve seen them come in at worse shape; (they are) not bad at this point in time,” He noted.
This, he says, will make his work a little easier, adding, “I think now, we don’t have to focus on fitness per se, just organising them in a tactical way – the patterns we want to have in attack and the patterns we want to have in defence.”
Twinning the experienced players with their younger counterparts will be key in this encounter, Shabazz said, noting keenly, “We’re happy to have Chan (Gregory Richardson) back with us and Travis Grant. Both of them (are) very experienced players. We have couple boys who came back from the league in Suriname like Quincy Adams and Kester Jacobs.”
He noted that the side will be ‘green’ in the goalkeeping aspect but has faith that youngsters Jason Cromwell and Alex Martin will be able to hold their own, come Sunday.
Summing up the team’s general mood after days of training, the longstanding coach described the side as, “Intense”, adding too that “(a lot of ) good work by the guys, good effort, good attitude and I think everybody is eager to get back on the pitch for the Guyana team right now.”
Along with the above-mentioned goalkeepers, the defenders named are Quincy Adams, King Solomon Austin, Joshua Brown, Les Charles, Jacobs, Trevon Lythcott and Linden Pickett.
In the middle, the side will have to choose from Eon Alleyne, Trayon Bobb, Travis Grant, Tichard Joseph, Dwayne Lindie, Konata Manning, Devon Millington, Colin Nelson and Dwight Peters.
The forwards named in addition to Richardson are Dellon Lanferman, Vurlon Mills and Daniel Wilson.