HEFEI, China — Nine members of Jamaica’s downsized Reggae Boyz unit and nine officials arrived here late last night following a torturous two-day journey that started in Kingston on Friday morning.

The Boyz are in mainland China to engage the hosts in a friendly international on Wednesday at the Hefei Sports Centre at 7:35 pm (6:35 am Jamaica time).

After overnighting in Los Angeles on Friday, the Boyz began their 13-hour trans-continental ordeal, which took them to the eastern city of Shanghai, and then onto their final destination of close-by Hefei, also by air.

But a delay at the Shanghai Pundong International Airport added to the physical stress of an already weary bunch. But in typical Jamaican fashion, they passed the time by sharing jokes and anecdotes in their native patois, which raised eyebrows and curious gazes from local Chinese travellers.

After arriving in Hefei and a 25-minute bus ride from the airport to the fabulous Hongrui Jinling Grand Hotel, the famished group was rushed to dinner at about 12:30 am. China is 13 hours ahead of Jamaica.

The team is scheduled to have its first training session with all 16 players confirmed for the assignment at the match venue at 6:30 pm.

Due in today are Scandinavia-based Dwayne Miller (Syrianska FC, Sweden), Jason Morrison (Aalesund’s FC, Norway), Damian Williams (Nybergsund I L, Norway), Luton Shelton (Valerenga FC, Norway), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, Norway) and US pros Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids) and Shavar Thomas (Sporting Kansas).

Those travelling to China yesterday were Portmore United’s Adrian Reid, Eric Vernan, Ricardo Cousins; Harbour View’s Richard Edwards and Montrose Phinn; Waterhouse FC’s Keneil Moodie and Richard McCallum; Boys’ Town’s Xavian Virgo and the unattached and former Bradford City man Omar Daley.

Waterhouse’s Kenardo Forbes, who was down to travel with the team, couldn’t do so due to difficulties getting him on a flight on time, while Toronto FC’s Ryan Johnson was ruled out injured late in the day.

Head coach Theodore Whitmore, while acknowledging that the long trip could impact the players, reminded that playing matches in trying circumstances was part and parcel of international football.

He pointed to an unusual situation where he led a Reggae Boyz team as coach to Germany for a friendly match against South Africa last year, where a travel-weary group of players put in a spirited performance mere hours after arriving in the European country.

The result in the end, it was widely agreed then, was not a fair indicator of the effort as the brave Boyz eventually lost the game 0-2 when fatigue got the better of them in the latter stages of the contest.

“Look at that time when we went to Germany and played that match; look at how we played just hours after stepping off the plane… this is what international football is all about,” said Jamaica’s hero at the France 1998 World Cup where he scored a delightful brace to give his team a 2-1 win over Japan.

Whitmore said that he wants to see all his players in camp to assess exactly how he and the rest of his technical team will approach the training and by extension the game.

“My main concern is to see the rest of my players and to prepare ourselves physically and mentally for this clash,” he said prior to departing from Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon.

Completing the coaching team here are technical director, Brazilian Professor Walter Gama, goalkeeper coach Warren Barrett and physical trainer Andre Waugh.

Team doctor Carlton ‘Pee Wee’ Fraser has been busy keeping the players on a hydration and injury-prevention regimen, and he could be seen instructing the seven players who travelled together from Los Angeles to Shanghai through walkabouts through the aisles of the wide-body Boeing 777 to get circulation at an optimum under the circumstances.

“We have to now encourage increased intake by hydrating them, not only with water, but fruit juices,” he said.

Dr Fraser added that every precautionary measure known will be applied to lower the risks of players picking up injuries during training and the game.

“The important thing is the recovery… this means we will have to heighten our programme and of course we have to get the co-operation of the players,” he said.