….13 overseas players expected

By Ras Wadada
WITH less than a week before game time in Paramaribo,the Golden Jaguars squad has been reduced to 22 players, including 12 overseas-based, who are expected in the country by tomorrow.The unit also shows five new faces, while several key players have made themselves available for the 2 third-round matches in the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) senior Men’s Championship. The Jaguars face Suriname next Saturday,and three day later host Cup holders Jamaica at the Leonora Stadium.
The team will also be without a number of starters due to injuries, but rejoining the team after missing the 2nd round matches is Puerto Rico based captain Christopher Nurse.
The five newcomers include MLS’ Philadelphia Union midfielder, Warren Creavelle,along with California schoolboy winger Cash London and goalkeeper Andrew Nestor of Brooklyn College. Defender Anani Mohammed recently signed with Mexico’s division two side Atalante , while 6’ 5” Kai Lyle plays for Barnett in the English Division Two. .
The other foreign based players are; Canada based Adrian Butters, US-based Brandon Beresford and European based Walter Moore, Jake Newton, Samuel Cox and Marcel Barrington. The injured list reads: Neil Danns, Sheldon Holder, Emery Welshman and Anthony White;while the unavailable players are; Kester Jacobs, Devon Millington and Gregory Richardson;while Canada based Shaquille Agard cannot get time off from school.
Coach Jamal Shabazz is optimistic going into the two crucial encounters,although he will be without the services of a number of seasoned players,and despite poor preparations.
“There is no time to cry or complain over what should or did not happen, regarding our preparations. It’s all about approaching the job with a positive mindset and giving of our best to get the result”, Shabazz stated.
The philosophical Trinbagonian added that the Jaguars must be hungry, “The thing I love about football is when you have your full squad bonded, united and ready to go, you kiss your troubles goodbye and look forward to fighting for three points. Instinctively,when Jaguars are hungry they have to go and hunt, therefore if we are hungry for success, the Golden Jaguars must go out and battle for it”.
The full 22-man squad: Goalkeepers – Kai Lyle, Andrew Nestor and Alex Murray; Defenders – Jake Newton, Samuel Cox, Quincy Adams, Walter Moore, Adrian Butters , Colin Nelson and Anani Mohammed; Midfielders – Dwight Peters, Cash London, Brandon Beresford, Trayon Bobb, Christopher, Warren Creavelle, Daniel Wilson and Kevin Beaton; Forwards – Anthony Abrams, Vurlon Mills, Pernel Schultz and Marcel Barrington.
The 20-man squad to travel to Suriname will be announced after the final two training sessions this Tuesday and Wednesday. The team is expected to depart on Thursday