Guyana Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz says the 24 players selected for the Trinidad and Tobago’s international friendlies on May 13 and 15 impressed him during the KFC Elite League Season Six Round One and the rigorous training sessions this week.
Shabazz shared that the three goalkeepers, six defenders, eleven midfielders and four forwards were drawn from clubs including Guyana Defence Force FC, Slingerz FC, Guyana Police Force FC and Santos FC because they “showed they can do well locally, so now we’re going to give them a taste of international football.”
Both matches will be played from 19:00h at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The players are all aiming to secure their spots in the final squad for the upcoming Concacaf Qualifiers for the World Cup 2026.
“These matches are going to answer some questions for some of these boys, if they are ready for international football or not, or if they need a little more time. In my judgement, the fact that we’ve selected them, I think they are. So questions are going to be answered in terms of their performance.”
The coaching unit is banking on the players to maximise on the opportunities being afforded to them via these friendlies
The Head Coach noted that the team has a solid blend of players with prior international experience who will provide a firm foundation, alongside newcomers eager to leave their imprint on the team.
Among the roster are some recognisable figures, such as defenders Jeremy Garret and Curtez Kellman; midfielders Daniel Wilson and Leo Lovell, and forward Kelsey Benjamin.
Their contributions were integral to the Golden Jaguars’ undefeated campaign in the Concacaf National League 2023/2024, which led to a historic promotion to League A, achieved alongside Trinidad and Tobago.
Joining the home-based players are four fresh talents with Guyanese heritage from Canada, France and the United States who are making their debut appearances with the Golden Jaguars.
“We had four sessions so it has gone well. They guys have been very enthusiastic. They have worked hard, they been on time, they have been disciplined. I can’t ask much more of them other than now to go to Trinidad to carry the courage and confidence that they have shown in the training.”
The Golden Jaguars face a daunting path in the Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Second Round from June 2024 to 2025 in Group D alongside Panama, Nicaragua, Montserrat and Belize.
The qualification process has three stages, involving 32 FIFA-affiliated Concacaf Member Associations.
The first round featured the lowest-ranked Member Association- Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Anguilla.
In the Second Round, which includes the winners of the first round and the remaining 28 participating Member Associations, Guyana will engage in a series of four matches, split evenly between home and away fixtures.
Only the group winners and runners-up will progress to the third and final round of Qualifiers.
During the Final Round, second-round group winners and runners-up- totalling 12 teams- will be segregated into three groups of four teams each.
These teams will vie in six home-and-away matches across the FIFA international match windows of September, October and November 2025.
The winning trio from these groups will secure their slots in the prestigious World Cup.
Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde and Head Coach Shabazz are focused on preparing the national team through consistent on-field action, which includes participation in international friendlies.
The objective is clear: the Golden Jaguars are striving to secure direct qualification for their inaugural World Cup appearance, alongside hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Completing the official roster for the Trinidad and Tobago international friendlies are Assistant Coach Wayne Dover, Goalkeeper Coach Eon DeViera, Manager Rawle Adams, Equipment Manager Trevor Burnett and Equipment Officer N-Zinga Maxwell.
“We’re ready to go on the doorstep of Trinidad and Tobago and take the fight to them,” Shabazz said.
