DEEP BAY, Antigua — Arnett Gardens midfielder Lamar Nelson has joined the Reggae Boyz squad after being temporarily detained by immigration officials at the VC Bird International Airport this morning.

Nelson, who travelled by himself on Caribbean Airlines from Jamaica on Thursday and who had a night layover in Trinidad, had his clearance delayed pending his ‘receival’ by an official of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA).

The practice of receiving a visitor is said to be a standard procedure here.

Head of delegation of the Jamaican contingent here for the CFU Caribbean Championship Raymond Anderson confirmed the incident, but reassured that the matter has been addressed without difficulty.

With Nelson joining his teammates, all 23 players have landed in Antigua where the Boyz are seeking to defend back-to-back titles.

Another player, Waterhouse’s Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson travelled with the regional carrier, and like Nelson, did not possess a US visa.

He, however, did not encounter any delays.

Twenty-one other players with US visas flew to the Eastern Caribbean via Miami on Wednesday.

They are 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, Jermaine Hue, Keammar Daley, Ricardo Gardner, Tramaine Stewart, Ryan Johnson, Darren Mattocks and Omar Cummings.

Jamaica will contest Group B of the tournament and open their account against French Guiana tomorrow at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at 7:00 pm (6:00 Jamaica).  Martinique and Cuba complete the zone.

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

The four semi-finalists, of the 10-day championship, which gets underway today, will gain automatic berths to next summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held in the United States.

— Sean Williams