TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Just hours before Jamaica oppose hosts Honduras here in their CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying encounter at the Tiburcio Carias Olympic Stadium in Tegucigalpa at 8:00 pm, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell struck an optimistic note in an event he said is a “must win” for the Reggae Boyz.

Captain Burrell, who spoke to the Jamaica Observer at the team’s Real Intercontinental Hotel, said this evening’s game is “very important” as regards the points standings.

“I believe all the players now fully understand what this game means for Jamaica and I think we are likely to see a game of high intensity, in very much the same way we played the last part of the game against the united States of America in Jamaica,” he opined.

Jamaica currently sit at the bottom of the hexagonal with two points, as Costa Rica, USA and Mexico occupy the lead with seven points, followed by Panama on six and Honduras on four points. 

Jamaica and Mexico have played five games in this final phase of qualification series, with the other teams playing one less.

The top three teams at the end of the home and away series earn automatic berths to the Brazil World Cup Finals next summer, while the team that finishes fourth earns a home-and-away play-off with the winner of the Oceania region in November for another shot at qualification.

“I think everyone will be going all out. On the other hand the Hondurans also recognise that this is a very important game for them and therefore I think an exciting game is in the offing for this evening.

“I’m very optimistic because looking at the faces of the players, they understand and there is no doubt about the quality that we have here. It is just that we have failed to drive home the advantage, but I think that it is going to be every single player at his best this evening, and if all our players perform at their best, this Honduran team cannot, and I say again, cannot hold us this evening and I’m going in very optimistic and I feel this one,” he concluded.