Shabazz to boost national team with friendlies in French Guiana
Guyana Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach plans to use the team’s friendly matches in Suriname to improve their skills ahead of the Concacaf Nations League in June.
Guyana’s Golden Jaguars had put on an impressive display in last month's Courts Caribbean Classic when they inflicted a 5-0 beating on Barbados and came close to securing their first win against Trinidad and Tobago on foreign soil since 1978.
They had played to a draw but Trinidad and Tobago won by superior goal differential.
Following this impressive display, Guyana’s men have arrived in French Guiana for two friendlies as part of an intensive warm-up regime for the return of the Concacaf Nations League B-fixtures in June.
“These two matches that we have to play in French Guiana gives us a good opportunity to keep the core players we have been working with active in a decent level of competition.” Shabazz said.
The squad consists entirely of Guyana-based players.
“It also gives us the opportunity to try out a couple of things we’ve been doing in training. Trying to improve our pressing, trying to improve our ball movement and the speed of it.”
The Golden Jaguars will face French Guiana on Saturday, April 16 and Monday, April 18.
“You know there’s always that nice rivalry with the French Guiana team. It is also a gruelling trip. All Guyanese people know that road trip from Suriname and then to Cayenne. But it’s going to build some character for us. The degree of difficulty involved in making that long trek and then playing two matches. But we welcome it, cause it’s all part of the preparation.”
Goalkeepers
1. Ronaldo Blair
2. Sese Norville
Defenders
3. Jeremy Garrett
4. Quincy Adams
5. Marcus Wilson
6. Leo Lovell
7. Nicolai Andrews
8. Shemar Fraser
Midfielders
9. Daniel Wilson
10. Clive Nobrega
11. Job Caesar
12. Javier George
13. Darron Niles
14. Jemar Harrigan
15. Ryan Hackett
Forwards
16. Trayon Bobb
17. Kelsey Benjamin
18. Ian Dooker
19. Jaminine Beckles
20. Jamal Perriera
21. Pernell Schultz
22. Osafo Simpson
Staff:
Jamaal Shabazz (Head Coach)
Rawle Adams (Team Manager)
Wayne Dover (Assistant Coach)
Charles Pollard (Assistant Coach)
Dylan Palmer (Fitness Coach)
Dexter George (Physiotherapist)
Trevor Burnett (Equipment Manager)
Keeron Tanner (Video/IT Technician)
