Shabazz eager to see continued fan support at Morvant Ground

A fortnight ago, an estimated 2,000-plus fans turned up to see the club’s 4-2 defeat to San Juan Jabloteh. However, Shabazz remains upbeat. “The results on the field would come,” said the ex-national women’s team coach. “It will take time for the community to be integrated into the team and, when the club and community gel, they will become the 12th man.

“After that we will see what home advantage really means and the real concept of a club driven by the community,” added Shabazz.

“In football terms who ain’t dead badly wounded ....so let everyone talk they talk,” waxed Shabazz lyrically.

“Today’s game, which kicks off at 3.45pm, can be considered almost a Morvant Affair since a number of the Defence Force team personnel (including coach Marvin Gordon and striker Devorn Jorsling) either resides or attended school in the Morvant/Laventille area.

“The community is very familiar with the Army players and they (Army) are very familiar with this territory,” stated Shabazz.

Admitting that he has always been critical of the political leadership because of the “neglect places like Morvant and Laventille has undergone over the years”, the efforts to upgrade the field so that professional football can come to Morvant, in his opinion, is a plus.

“The (current Government) can take a bow they have now started the process of looking out for ‘Eric Williams children’,” Shabazz noted. “It has been long in coming. We have had to line up until (certain areas) get theirs but it seems like we will be getting ours.” The man who has the distinction of coaching the national teams of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago feels that community fields are the future of professional football in the country.

“Credit to the club owners and the administration of the TT Pro League,” he acknowledged.

“It is so difficult to finance a pro team but with facilities within the communities clubs in both the Pro and Super League can achieve self sufficiency.”