Ricketts’ experience a plus for Boyz
AN imposing, agile figure standing at 6ft 5 in bellowing instructions after instructions from the back brings a level of confidence to any defence.
Reggae Boyz captain Donovan Ricketts is the man between the sticks and as towering as he is, his shouting from the back is important to let his players know what is happening on the field.
Jamaica enter today’s World Cup qualifier against Guatemala knowing that the man in the goal is arguably one of the best in the region.
Ricketts, 34, while playing for Bradford City in England, allowed in one goal in 10 hours and was described by his then coach Colin Todd “as the best in the country”.
Yes, that was in England, among some of the best in the world, including Edwin Van De Sars and company. But probably his coach Todd had jumped overboard with that statement as usual when coaches speak about players.
Jamaican faithfuls are hopeful that Ricketts, a loud talker on the pitch, will be heard and his instructions followed in his effort to keep a clean sheet.
If he is to replicate that form of letting in one goal in 10 hours for Bradford City, Jamaica will easily be in the next round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The Reggae Boyz will play six games in this round against Guatemala, Antigua and Barbuda and the mighty United States — a place Ricketts was probably at his best.
Ricketts has got everything going for him because of his height. He is agile, composed and his starting positions are very good, which will be a plus for the Reggae Boyz.
Ricketts was deemed to be the best goalkeeper in the US Major League Soccer, winning the Goalkeeper of the Year Award and being a two-time All-Star while at the Los Angeles Galaxy.
But is the towering shot stopper back to his best after suffering a broken arm in 2011 and missing two months before being transferred to the Montreal Impacts?
Ricketts, who made his debut for Jamaica in 1998 as a 21-year-old and went to the France World Cup as an unused goalkeeper behind Warren Barrett and Aaron Lawrence, could well be the man to return Jamaica to the pinnacle of football — the FIFA World Cup Finals in 2014.
