THE Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) has sent its foreign head coach Otto Pfister on leave even though his contract ends on December 31, for what they have termed official leave; and consequently has recalled the services of Guyana’s head coach, Trinidadian Jamal Shabazz from his loan agreement with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) according to the Trinidad Express newspaper recently.
Ironically, it was Trinidadian Shabazz who was instrumental in Guyana’s ousting of the Twin Island Republic from advancing in the Brazil 2014 World Cup, as the Guyanese secured a berth to the third round for the first time ever; and the earth-shattering result for the Trinidadians seems to have taken its toll on the administration of the sport in that country.
That report out of Trinidad and Tobago understandably made it clear and emphatic: "His loan with Guyana is now at an end and he (Shabazz) is expected in the next few days to return to his post with the TTFF. Should he be required again, the TTFF will have to deal with that."
The president of the Guyana Football Federation (ag), Franklyn Wilson, on this apparent new development yesterday morning, said, “Shabazz did not tell us anything. We were in communication up to yesterday.”
When asked if Shabazz was under contract with the GFF, Wilson said, “yes!” but maintained: “I don’t know if they have withdrawn the man, So, I can’t deal with speculation. Shabazz didn’t say that to us.”
Shabazz’s first stint with Guyana’s senior men’s team now popularly known as the Golden Jaguars was from 2005 to 2007, when he took Guyana to its best ever showing in terms of ranking with FIFA, and he returned this year for his second stint.
Meanwhile, Kashif Muhammad, one half of the Kashif and Shanghai duo who first introduced Shabazz to the federation commented, “I heard something like that was mentioned, Jamal didn’t tell me anything about that.”
According to Muhammad: “Last night Jamal and I spoke and our plans continue just as usual. They can’t pull Jamal. He is the GFF’s National Coach.
And when contacted yesterday afternoon Shabazz from his base in Trinidad and Tobago told Chronicle Sport he will be meeting with the TTFF. He said, “We have a meeting and by tomorrow (Wednesday) then I will be able to speak on the matter.”
He continued that the TTFF has made a statement and he acknowledged that he was on loan for three months with the Guyana Football Federation”
In assessing the progress made Shabazz said “I feel nobody (except) the players perhaps, expected us to reach this far, the third round of the World Cup and I think that is why it was a three-month loan agreement.” He said that this was the second occasion for which he was working with the GFF and he was loud in praise of the staff he has and the effort of all concerned.
He was however critical of those who continue to try to divide and disrupt the progress being made based on what they want from the sport.
At the moment it is anybody’s guess whether Pfister will return to Trinidad and Tobago as it is uncertain if, as the Express describes it: “The loan spell for Trinidadian Jamal Shabazz as Guyana head coach has ended”.
That report also stated “Whether he returns to the Golden Jaguars when they continue the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign next year is also to be determined by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) in due course,” attributing remarks by Lennox Watson, the acting president of the TTFF in his inaugural address.
Watson was speaking at a breakfast meeting at Jaffa Restaurant, Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain as he replaces Oliver Camps who recently resigned. He will perform duties as president until the TTFF calls a special congress in a few months' time to appoint a permanent successor to Camps.
The report made by Watson said, "Our senior technical staff and Mr (Otto) Pfister's contract comes to an end in December. These contracts will be reviewed and a team put in place which allows us to move forward. Coach Pfister, meantime, proceeds on his leave."
The Express report noted Watson saying “the TTFF had also received many calls concerning the standing of former Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Coach Shabazz, who coached Guyana as they qualified for the CONCACAF third round of World Cup qualifying at the expense of Trinidad and Tobago, whom they beat 2-1 at the Providence National Stadium in Guyana last Friday, rendering the Soca Warriors 2-0 victory in the return match meaningless.”
Watson weighed in by adding, "Mr. Shabazz is an employee of the TTFF in the capacity of Assistant Director of Women's football. The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) approached the TTFF Mr Shabazz to serve on a loan as Guyana’s National Coach. The TTFF released Mr Shabazz and today we congratulate him on a good job done.”