Ja-Peru friendly match gets green light

BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports Editor

Friday, August 20, 2010

THE US Soccer Federation (USSF) has given the green light for the South America-based promoters to execute the friendly international match between the Reggae Boyz and Peru in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 7.

While both associations had agreed to the game to be played at Lockhart Stadium with kick-off set at 8:00 pm (7:00 pm Jamaica time), there was an "unusual delay" in the USSF granting permission for the game to go ahead.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) head Captain Horace Burrell could not say what caused the delay, but said high-level intervention saw a swift and favourable response from USA Soccer.

"We just want to thank US Soccer for granting the permission to the promoters so the game can go ahead," Burrell said yesterday.

Already, interest in the game is said to have moved up a notch, with initial promotional activities having started in the south Florida area, a stronghold of the Jamaican Diaspora in the US.

There is also a blooming community of Peruvian expatriates residing in the Miami area, so "a great turn-out is expected for the game".

"This will be a highly-anticipated game since we will be playing in strong Diaspora communities, plus we will be having some of our top and most exciting players. We expect to have people like US-based Dane Richards and the speedy Norway-based Luton Shelton," said Burrell.

Before heading out to Florida on September 6, Jamaica will take on Costa Rica at the National Stadium on Sunday, September 5.

Peru, ranked 43 places above Jamaica by FIFA, are down to play Canada away the Saturday before their date with the Reggae Boyz.

Ten overseas based players have been invited by head coach Theodore Whitmore to join their local counterparts for both the Costa Rica and Peru match-ups.

A noticeable returnee after being out for over a year-and-half is midfielder Omar Daley of Bradford City. The others are Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy), Shavar Thomas (Kansas City Wizards), Ryan Johnson (San Jose Earthquakes), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids USA), Richards (New York Red Bulls USA), Demar Phillips (Aalesund FC), Jason Morrison (Stromgodset IL) Shelton (Valarenga FC) and

Nicolas Addlery (Puerto Rico Islanders).

Cummings was invited for Jamaica's last game against Trinidad and Tobago last week, but declined due to a pressing business matter. Phillips was likewise considered by Whitmore, but was injured.

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Ja-Peru friendly match gets green light