Boyz depart for Warriors showdown

Monday, August 09, 2010

Jamaica's national senior footballers are slated to travel to Trinidad today ahead of Wednesday's friendly international against the hosts.

The game was originally set for the Hasely Crawford Stadium, but due to FIFA inspection of the facilities for the Under-17 Women's World Cup, the game has been switched to the Marvin Lee Stadium at 6:00 pm (5:00 pm Jamaica time).

Thirteen local-based players have been selected by head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, and they along with Eric Vernan, the European-based player, who is already in the island, will depart today at approximately 2:00 pm. They will be joined upon arrival in the twin-island republic by US-based players Donovan Ricketts, Shavar Thomas, Ryan Johnson and Dane Richards, as well as Rodolph Austin, who is also based in Europe.

Wednesday's game is a continuation of the Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign, which was launched on January 31 with a game against Canada at Kingston's National Stadium.

The game, the first of a two-leg series between the top two Caribbean nations, will be the fourth international for the Boyz this year, after the 1-0 win over Canada, a courageous 1-2 loss to Argentina in Mar Del Plata and a 0-2 loss to South Africa in Germany.

The return leg is slated for October 10 at the National Stadium, but before that the Boyz will entertain CONCACAF neighbours Costa Rica at the same venue on September 5.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss Captain Horace Burrell has promised that both teams would parade their best "available players", and while the English League players are not expected to participate, Trinidad and Tobago's head coach Russell Latapy is sure to field a number of his star players.

Jamaica's local-based players are Jermaine Taylor, Dicoy Williams, Andre Blake, Devon Williams, Oneil Fisher, Troy Smith, Adrian Reid, Richard Edwards, Ricardo Cousins, Devon Hodges, Kavin Bryan, Kenardo Forbes and Mario Swaby.

The touring party is completed by Head of Delegation Sheridan Samuels; Whitmore; assistant coach Bradley Stewart; team manager Howard Bell; team doctor Ivor O'Connor; and equipment manager Dwayne Blake.