United States and Scotland football scouts have expressed a desire to have members of the national football team, nicknamed `Golden Jaguars’, try out for professional contracts in their respective countries.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday via telephone from Trinidad, Guyanese Technical Director Trinidadian Jamal Shabazz informed that he was approached by a Scottish scout after Guyana’s final game on Thursday against Cuba.
He said the scout has expressed an interest in having Nigel `Powers’ Codrington, Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson, team captain Charles `Lilly’ Pollard, Kayode McKinnon and Walter Moore try out for professional contracts with Scottish clubs.
“Some US clubs also stated an interest in the same players as well as others,” Shabazz stated, adding “so the exposure at this level has not been without fruit.”
Shabazz who is expected in Guyana over the weekend said he will host a press conference on Monday to field questions from the local media. “I will face the media and the people of Guyana to answer any question they may pose.” “I will stand at their feet to face their judgment and I must say that I’m looking forward to this.”
The Trinidadian said the `Golden Jaguars’ as they are called, have made tremendous strides in the one year that he has been working with them. “If with one year’s sacrifice and good organization we can do this, then one can only imagine what we can do with this and any other team, once we have a properly funded developmental programme.”
Asked about the team’s performance against Cuba on Thursday, Shabazz said like the first game against St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the local ball weavers’ finishing was very poor. “We had at least three sure scoring opportunities in the first half but failed to convert.”
He was quick to add, “It was a tremendous effort by the guys and a difficult way to go out, particularly when you score a goal and it’s disallowed. Maybe if we had a different referee assistant we might have been going forward to the semi-finals and book our place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.”
Aruba’s FIFA assistant referee Egbert Peach disallowed a Nigel Codrington goal.
Shabazz said the team as a whole worked very hard and gave a lot for their country.
The Technical Director said in the game against Cuba, the Spanish- speaking team, who in his opinion, is supposed to be fitter than the Guyanese, backed off in the second session of the game like all the other teams Guyana played in the tournament, and defended stoutly.
He said in such situations the Guyanese need to learn to be patient and create openings even when the opposition packs up their defence.
“I feel hurt and disappointed, particularly for the players and the effort they put into the tournament. But while we did not gain a qualification to the semi-finals, we gained the respect of the entire Caribbean.”
Guyana ended the round with a minus one goal difference.
From the group, Cuba and Guadeloupe have advanced to the semi- finals.
