GUYANA went down 1 – 2 to Suriname on Tuesday evening in the neighbouring country’s capital of Paramaribo, where the Jamaal Shabazz-coached side had gone to compete in a Tri-nation series that also involved Barbados.

It was Shabazz’s first defeat since returning to the helm of the Senior Men’s National team and the start of Guyana’s preparation for this season’s CONCACAF Nations League in June.

Playing against each other for the first time since 2016, Suriname grabbed their 15th win over Guyana in a rivalry that dates back to their first meeting in 1976.

The home side, coming off a 1 – 0 win over Barbados in their opening match, registered their lead in the 13th minute of their contest against Guyana via a Jamilhio Fitgers goal.

Despite several good runs by both sides, the first-half ended with Suriname having a one-goal cushion heading into the second stanza.
Suriname would go ahead in the 52nd minute when Fitgers connected from inside the 18, beating Guyana’s Sese Norville in goal.

Shabazz is no stranger to the rivalry between Guyana and Suriname, having served as Head Coach during some of the Golden Jaguars most successful years as a footballing nation.

However, this time around, Shabazz restructured the outlook of the Golden Jaguars and played a side against Suriname that featured some players making their international debut and several of Guyana’s most talented young players

“I thought we played against a well-organised, good tactical Suriname team, but we showed good energy and good skill on the wing…our kids are growing up. They’re still babies. At times they rocked the Suriname defence, so I can only imagine what will happen as they grow up,” Shabazz said after the game.

With the CONCACAF Nations League on the horizon, Coach Shabazz pointed out that the Golden Jaguars will be engaged in several international friendlies until the right composition is figured-out ahead of the confederation’s tournament.

“We had two players who we wanted to see from North America. We’re building the squad in phases, so we’re using the local-based players and in March, we’re going to use the UK-based. But now, given COVID-19 and everything, we have to build from home,” The Trinidadian added.

Shabazz lauded the effort of the Suriname Football Federation and its counters in Guyana and Barbados added that “it’s not a bad effort. It’s a brave effort by the Suriname Federation. I think all of us (Suriname, Barbados and Guyana) got a victory over COVID-19 in this tournament.”

Having first taken charge of the Golden Jaguars in 2005, the 57-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native will make his fourth stop as the Golden Jaguars Head Coach, after also serving in 2011 – 2012 and 2015 – 2016.

Shabazz departed in 2016 following a heart-breaking 4 – 2 defeat to the Reggae Boyz at the National Track and Field Centre in the 2016 Caribbean Cup Qualifiers, where the Jamaicans came from being down 2 – 0 at halftime to win.

Since then, the Golden Jaguars were led by Shabazz’s assistant, Wayne Dover, former Jamaica International Michael Johnson and recently, Brazilian Marcio Maximo.

Guyana will be placed in League B of the CONCACAF tournament and will play alongside the likes of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda and French Guiana.

The second edition of the CONCACAF Nations League is set to start in June, with matches also being played in the September 2022 and March 2023 FIFA match windows.