RICARDO ‘Bibi’ Gardner, the iconic Jamaican footballer and France 1998 World Cup veteran, says he’s over the moon with his recall to the Reggae Boyz set-up.

Even at the mature age of 34, the former Bolton Wanderers star thinks he still has the pep in his step, and watching him in training yesterday, one is forced to agree.

“It’s always great to be back playing for your country, and it’s just great to wear the shirt once more and I am just looking forward to everything.

“I am never surprised to be representing my country, because I always have what it takes to represent my country and I am just happy to be back,” said Gardner after the team’s final training session at the JFF Technical Centre prior to departing today for Antigua and Barbuda to defend their Caribbean Cup title.

When head coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore called for the experienced left-sided maestro, many an eyebrow was raised. This doubt fuelled mainly by the fact that Gardner, who has had a productive 14-year reign in England’s top flight with Bolton, is without a club and his now a free agent.

But he has been staying fit, thanks to a little help from old friends.

“It helped a lot and I thank Bolton for giving me the opportunity to train with them to keep up my fitness and I think it has played a great part in where I am at today,” Gardner told the Jamaica Observer after yesterday’s spirited training session that lasted almost two hours.

But the Jamaica international, who has racked up approximately 109 caps up to 2009 when he last played, says his true form will be tested in the regional championship where the Boyz are down to face tough Group B opposition in Martinique, French Guiana and Cuba.

“Training is always different from match situations, so I just have to take each game at a time to see where I am at,” Gardener noted.

During the one-week preparation for the December 7-16 tournament, the former Harbour View star said he gave “everything in each training session”.

No doubt, Gardner is the elder statesman in the Antigua-bound squad of 23 players, and he figured with the right guidance he can inspire the other players to raise their standards.

“Hopefully with the help of God it will mean something to them and motivate them to get better and better. In Jamaica there is always a lot of talent, it’s just for us to approach it (properly) and give everything we have really,” he stated.

Meanwhile, assistant coach Brazilian Alfredo Montesso said Gardner and the recalled Preston North End midfielder Keammar Daley will bring special qualities to the team.

“Bibi (Ricardo Gardner) and Keammar (Daley) are back with the team and they bring a lot of experience to the game. Of course they are not in the best shape, but we decided to take this opportunity to have them and to see how we can work with them for the future… they are positive and bring calmness, maturity and experience,” he said.

The Brazilian, who supervised much of yesterday’s session with Whitmore imparting his experience and knowledge by direct participation, deemed the one-week camp of players based at home, in the USA and Scandinavia “productive”.

“We have to give praise to the players the way they have applied themselves after having a tough season… but it was a bit difficult earlier in the week with the chemistry as we have some players of the World Cup team who couldn’t attend because of injuries, and some players because it’s not a FIFA date, but these players know each other very well and we are very satisfied with the way the week has gone,” Montesso added.

Yesterday’s final training session saw a two-team handball match-up, two-touch scrimmaging, a vigorous exercise session conducted by trainer Andre Waugh, set piece routines, and a game using the entire pitch.

The Jamaicans, who are the current back-to-back defending champions, will depart the island this morning via Miami for the Antiguan capital of St John’s. The Boyz are due to have their first game on Saturday against French Guiana.

Group A will see hosts Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti and the Dominican Republic doing battle.

The four semi-finalists will gain automatic berths to next summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held in the United States.

Squad: Dwayne Miller, Duwayne Kerr, Jacomeno Barrett, Lovel Palmer, Xavian Virgo, Shavar Thomas, Dicoy Williams, Montrose Phinn, Alvas Powell, Demar Phillips, Andrae Campbell, Ewan Grandison, Jason Morrison, Rohan Reid, Lamar Nelson, Jermaine Hue, Keammar Daley, Ricardo Gardner, Tramaine Stewart, Ryan Johnson, Jermaine Anderson, Darren Mattocks and Omar Cummings.