By Emmerson Campbell in Grenada
Guyana’s Golden Jaguars football team will be looking to bounce back against the host Grenada tonight after a one-nil loss to Haiti in their first Group Six Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Cup game at the National Stadium here in St George’s on Wednesday.
The senior men’s national team is in a must-win situation in order to gain six points and be one of the two teams from the group to qualify for the finals in Antigua next month.
Coach, Jamaal Shabazz told Stabroek Sport in an interview following the team’s recovery session yesterday that the Jaguars have put Wednesday’s hard fought defeat behind them and are ready to roar tonight against the Spice Boyz who drew 1-1 with French Guiana two days ago.
“The mood in the camp is still positive,“ said Shabazz. “The players accepted that we played well. We played against a very organised Haitian team; a true CONCACAF opponent and we gave a good account of ourselves and we tried very hard. We have been in this situation before. It is certainly an uphill task, but the guys are in no way deflated and we are eager to get back on the pitch to play Grenada.”
When quizzed on the keys to victory in tonight’s game, Shabazz replied: “The Grenada team is a very rugged one. They have good height in the team and fighting spirit. I think it will be important for us to be very attacking and get behind them on the flank.”
He added, “We will need good performances from Dwain Jacobs and from young Trayon Bobb and we are toying with the idea of bringing in Daniel Wilson and young Pernell Shultz to bolster the attack.”
Kick off time is 20:00 hrs at the National Stadium.
Guyana is ranked #116 by FIFA while Grenada’s ranking is #149.
The Golden Jaguars starting 11 will most likely be made up of Chris Nurse (Captain), Derrick Carter (goalkeeper), Trayon Bobb, Charles Pollard, Jake Newton, Walter Moore, Vurlon Mills, Shawn Beveney, Dwain Jacobs, Jamaal Smith and Kester Jacobs.
