ONLY six members of the successful Under-17 squad that qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2011 have made the transition to this current Under-20 crop as they are about to enter the final qualification stages in Mexico later this month.

Then captain Omar Holness, Alvas Powell, Andre Lewis, Zhelano Barnes, Nico Campbell, and Romario Jones survived the cut and have been included in a 20-man squad for the CONCACAF qualifiers.

Wendell Downswell, who guided the Under-17 aggregation to the World Cup, is again the head coach of the Under-17s, but assistant coach to Luciano Gama for the Under-20s, and he believes this crop of youngsters can repeat and qualify for yet another finals.

"We must look at the federation in the fact that we have three teams vying for a World Cup place. The Under-17s, Under-20s and the national senior team. I must say to the federation, hats off, and I think this speaks volumes," said Downswell.

"I am pretty confident that the bunch of youngsters that we have currently will do us justice.

"When you look at the composition of the squad, a number of youngsters who were a part of the National Under-17 squad that went to the World Cup, from that unit, we have approximately 40 per cent that have made the transition to the National Under-20, and again that speaks volume for the continuity of the programme itself," he noted.

The squad that will leave Jamaica on February 5 for a two-week training camp will include Damion Lowe, the son of former national player Onandi Lowe. Young Lowe is formerly of Camperdown High, but is now studying at the University of Hartford.

Meanwhile, current Harbour View player Clifton Waugh's son Javaun, from Clarendon College, who can play either midfield or defence, has also been included.

Notable absentee from the squad is Jason Wright of Wolmer's Boys, who scored most of the goals during the National Under-17 campaign, and the outstanding defender Oshane Jenkins, who currently starts for Cavalier in the National Premier League.

FULL SQUAD: Goalkeepers — Rashaun Patterson and Nico Campbell; Defenders — Alvas Powell, Zhelano Barnes, Javaun Waugh, Kereen Manning, Shawn Lawes, Damion Lowe, Sean McFarlane; Midfielders — Rickardo Oldham, Romario Jones, Omar Holness, Keneil Kirlew, Andre Lewis, Mark Brown, Andrew Allen; Forwards — Paul Wilson, Oshana Boothe, Cleon Pryce and Kendan Anderson.