Cayman U-23s hope to do better against J’can counterparts today
TUCKER, St James — After going down 1-3 to Red Stripe Premier League champions Montego Bay United in a practice game on Friday at Wespow Park, the Cayman Islands Under-23s are hoping for an improved showing in their friendly game against their Jamaican equals at Jarrett Park today.
Alexander Gonzales, the Cayman Islands coach, told the Sunday Observer through an interpreter that the team had been travelling since 4:00 am, and after arriving in the island at 10:00 am, did not check into the hotel until about 1:00 pm and some of the players showed signs of fatigue as a result.
The players have been together for two months and are preparing for the first round of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament later this month.
Coach Gonzales believes there is still a lot of work to be done to bring his team up to a position of competitive strength.
“We need to continue to work hard on the tactical aspects of the game, some players were not able to follow instructions and this is something we need to work on,” he said.
The fatigue was obvious as the team with players averaging 23 years went down to a Premier League outfit that rested a number of their first-team players and who played the last 25 minutes of the game with just 10 players.
“Some of the players were tired as we have been travelling a long time,” Gonzales noted.
Jerome Haughton, who scored the second goal, suffered cramps and left the field after Montego Bay United had used up their six changes at the half-time break.
Allan Ottey in the 29th minute, Haughton in the 38th and substitute Kashief Brown in the second half scored for Montego Bay United, while Andres Ruiz got a consolation for Cayman after the local team had taken their foot off the gas.
Gonzales, who kept imploring his players to play short passes and keep the ball moving, also told the Sunday Observer that the team needs to focus on the mental part of the game.
“Fundamentally, we need to work on the mental aspect of the game…when they find themselves in difficult circumstances, they lose concentration and lose shape and that is something we hope to work on,” he said.
Ahead of the game against Jamaica’s Under-23 team today, Gonzales hopes his players would get some rest so they can “get on the pitch and compete”.
