By Rawle Toney

THE Golden Jaguars and Haiti will meet tonight from 18:00hrs in the Dominican Republic, for the second time in this season’s edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, and according to Coach Jamaal Shabazz, the game will be a test of the team’s character.

Haiti was in full demolition mode against the Golden Jaguars over the weekend at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, where they defeated the Guyanese side 6 – 2; the largest margin of victory for Haiti in the two side’s history, and the widest margin of win in Group B of League B in the Nations League.

Following their victory at Leonora, the Haitians are now on seven points having succeeded against Montserrat 3 – 2, then a goalless draw with Bermuda.

Guyana moved to second place following 2 – 1 wins against Montserrat and Bermuda and their latest defeat to Haiti.

With the win, Haiti remained perfect against Guyana in International football, dating back to their two-match tour in 1973, when they won 3 – 1 and 2 – 0.

However, since then, Haiti went on to play to a nil-draw in 2010, followed by a 1 – 0 victory in 2012 and a 3 – 1 win in 2019, which ironically happened on June 11 that year.

Looking ahead to tonight’s clash, Coach Shabazz will be hard-pressed to contain the Haitians, since the second half of the Nations League next June will be critical and can see the group come down to goal difference, where, at the moment, Guyana is minus-two (-2), as compared to Haiti’s plus-five (+5).

Shabazz entered the Haiti contest with a roster that was nursing some niggling injuries, while Torell Ondaan and Steve Duke McKenna were left out of the squad because of injuries sustained during Guyana’s clash with Bermuda.

However, Shabazz is expected to have the two overseas-based players back for today’s game, adding, “it’s really about the spirit. Our team has the spirit and we look forward to Haiti.”

Asked about the performance of Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Shabazz called it “electrifying,” adding that he “carried the team. (Neil) Danns, for his age, we never planned on playing him for more than 70 minutes, but he stood his ground and held it together.”

“It’s a good lesson for us to have our backs against the wall. We had a dream start, winning the first two games. This will test our character, it will show what we’re made of. Being slaughtered at home and then going to Santo Domingo and rebounding. I can only say that on behalf of the team, we’re going there to battle and to redeem ourselves,” Shabazz said.

One thing is for certain, Shabazz will certainly have to make some changes in the team’s defensive organisation, particular to his ‘back four’ which seemed porous at best.

Guyana conceded five goals in the first half, but things took a turn for the better after some change in the defence.

The Golden Jaguars, offensively, will want to capitalize on their chances in attack, as Shabazz will have the services of Ondaan to go along with Emery Welshman and the team’s leading goalscorer in their nations league campaign, Omari Glasgow.

One thing is for certain, the results from today’s game can potentially make or break Guyana’s chances of winning their group and advancing to League A.

Meanwhile, after taking on Haiti, Guyana will travel to Hamilton on March 25, 2023, to face Bermuda.

Shabazz and his troops will close their participation in the second edition of the Nations League with a home game against Montserrat on March 28, 2023.

According to CONCACAF, the Nations League will serve as the qualifier for the 2023 Gold Cup.