LOS ANGELES, California — Assistant Head Coach Miguel Coley says the Reggae Boyz are well positioned to make an impact at the CONCACAF Gold Cup which kicks off tomorrow.

His opinion is formed against the background of the positives emerging from Jamaica’s historic participation at the Copa America in Chile. And, though the Boyz lost all three games 0-1 to Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, the team is thought to have exhibited tactical discipline, prudent use of the pitch, and steely character.

“The momentum is good, it’s now for us not to rest there, but build on that… I know that the mindset of the players is very good and I know that they are mentally strong. I also know that they are very focused and ready for this tournament,” said Coley, the successful coach at Jamaica College.

Though the team was reserved in offence, and understandably so, Coley is predicting that, while the plan is to remain tactically responsible, fans are likely to see a more attacking approach at the Gold Cup.

“In the Copa America, we had tough games, which we could not take many chances, because those teams we played against, once you open up, they will punish you, so we had to be playing very tight and a bit reserved.

“But at the Gold Cup,… with the confidence within the team, we expect us to take more chances at goal,” he said shortly after arriving at the team’s base at Ayres Hotel in Los Angeles.

The three games in Chile, Coley said, served as valuable practice for the Gold Cup, the marquis trophy in CONCACAF.

“You couldn’t ask for anything better, and it was very important that we got those three games. But those games were not just practice games for us, as we really wanted to do well in the tournament and move on to the next level,” he expressed.

Against Costa Rica in their opening match of Group B at the StubHub Center at 5:00 pm (7:00 pm Jamaica time), Coley said only “a positive start” will suffice, according to the plan as the Boyz eye a quarter-final berth.

“We face Costa Rica in our first game and we have to start good,” he noted.

The Boyz, who were scheduled to have their first training session yesterday at 7:00 pm (9:00 pm Jamaica time) are expected to be focused on “our system of play”, among other things.

“We will also be working on our finishing. While we did well at the Copa America, we were not able to score any goals, but this time around we will be working hard to create as many chances as possible,” Coley concluded.

After kick-starting their Group B campaign on Wednesday, the Boyz will then face Canada on Saturday in Houston, Texas, before closing out the preliminary stage against El Salvador in Toronto, Canada, next week Tuesday.

Meanwhile, overseas-based players in the 23-man squad began arriving in Los Angeles early yesterday and, according to team officials, all were expected to be in camp by last night.

Only four players — Captain Rodolph Austin, Allan Ottey, Dwayne Miller and Andre Clennon — travelled from Jamaica yesterday.

The full 23-man squad is goalkeepers Andre Blake, Dwayne Miller, and Ryan Thompson; Defenders Michael Hector, Lance Laing, Kemar Lawrence, Adrian Mariappa, Wes Morgan, Demar Phillips, Alvas Powell, and Jermaine Taylor; Midfielders Rodolph Austin, Simon Dawkins, Joel Grant, Christopher Humphrey, Joel McAnuff, Garath McCleary, and Je-Vaughn Watson; Forwards Giles Barnes, Andre Clennon, Darren Mattocks, Allan Ottey, and Michael Seaton.