Boyz name 20 for Guatemala tournament
PORTO FELIZ, Brazil — Jamaica’s 20-man squad for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Guatemala was announced immediately after the team’s 0-1 loss to AE Velo Clube Rioclarense at the Estadio Benito Agnello Castellano in Rio Claro on Thursday night.
Erick scored a deflected free-kick for the home team 10 minutes into the match to hand the young Reggae Boyz their fourth loss in six matches. They had one win and a draw.
Six players of the original 26-man squad will return to Jamaica following the three-week training stint. Those making the cut are goalkeepers Kemar Foster and Gregory McCogg; the defenders are captain Sergio Campbell, Jhamie, Hyde, Oneil Fisher, Kemar Lawrence, Richardo Israel and Jason Watson; the midfielders are Paul Wilson, Ewan Grandison, Neco Brett, Devon Williams, Marvin Morgan, Jahmeil Hardware and Ashani Walker, while Ricardo Morris, Denmark Gillings, Craig Foster, Allan Ottey and Jason Wallace will go as the strikers.
Those not included in the final 20 are Shaven Paul, Ramone McGregor, Dino Gardener, Kemar Beckford, Ackeemo Palmer and Alvas Powell. Powell, a member of Jamaica’s Under-17 squad that qualified for this summer’s World Cup in Mexico, will remain in Brazil on an extended trial stint with Traffic Football Academy.
The team is currently in Guatemala and will have their first game against the 12-nation World Cup qualifying tournament on Tuesday against the host. Jamaica also have Honduras in their group.
Head coach, Brazilian Walter Gama, said it was a tough decision, but added that he believes he has taken the is “the best players” to the tournament.
After Thursday’s match, Walter Gama said the team has a very strong defence going into the tournament, but repeated his concerns with the attacking aspect of play.
“The defence and the composition of the team has developed well… the Guatemala team is not as strong as the (Rioclarense) first team that started the first-half, we just needed a goal to get something from the game,” he said.
The elder Gama, who is working with son Luciano in guiding the Under-20 World Cup-qualifying programme, said his aim his to repeat the success of Under-17 coach, Wendell Downswell.
Rioclarense coach Joao Vallim said the young Boyz play with a lot of intensity and effort and I think they will have a good chance for the tournament… they have very positive characteristics, but they need to improve in attacking as a collective team,” he said.
