Shabazz promises full commitment to Caledonia in 2009
By Randy Bando (ttproleague.com)Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA coach Jerry Moe have been assured the full commitment of Technical Director Jamaal Shabaaz next season as the Morvant based club looks to an improved season in 2009.
Caledonia captured the Courts Pro Bowl and most recently the FA Trophy title while finishing fourth in their domestic League making it the best season in the club’s history.
The Stallions finished in the same fourth position in 2005, 2006 and 2007 but 2008 where their best ever season following their two trophies.
Following Wednesday’s 3-2 extra time victory against W Connection for the national FA Trophy, Shabazz announced that his role as Technical Director of the Guyana National Football Team has expired.
“My stint in Guyana is up. I am back home (with Caledonia) and I am now moving from Guyana coach back to a community activist,” said the Caledonia Technical Director who was in and out of the Movant based club shuffling Guyana football with his club duties.
Shabazz praised his club’s collective effort for their titles success this season pointing out Coach Jerry Moe for his role.
“I was in and out of the country. Coach Jerry Moe was here and he never allowed things to get into his head. We worked with a collective effort and we are seeing that working together can achieve things for us.”
Caledonia and W Connection were tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation time forcing the match into extra time at the Marvin Lee Stadium before substitute Jameel Perry headed in what was the match winner for a 3-2 finish.
Striker Conrod Smith kept the Stallions alive in the second period registering an equaliser before assisting the Perry item extra time.
Shabazz explained that the victory on Wednesday night proved the possibilities of the Morvant based club.
“W connection is always a very superior team in the early stages of the game. We had to dig very deep which we did.
“It gives the assurance that when we work hard we can go anywhere. We are in a rebuilding stage. We are confident, we are strong and we wish the season was now starting,” added the popular community activist.
Shabazz further add that Wednesday’s national title victory is a step towards bettering their community.
“This win is most important for the people in the community to identify with the people on the street and say no more border line. People from all borders of the Morvant area came together (at the Marvin Lee Stadium) and we say now, no more borderlines with this victory.”
