HOUSTON, Texas — Giles Barnes thinks a great deal of his Reggae Boyz team.

Never the one to mince words, the Houston Dynamo front man, more often than not, speaks from the heart.

Barnes, 26, believes that Jamaica, despite Costa Rica’s better FIFA ranking, are the best team in Group B of the ongoing CONCACAF Gold Cup. And based on the fighting character on display on Wednesday, he could be right.

On a cool Los Angeles evening, the Boyz and the Central Americans battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw in their opening game, though victory was in sight as Jamaica had the better opportunities at goal to seal the deal.

Barnes, who plies his trade here in Houston for the Dynamo in Major League Soccer, told the Jamaica Observer that a point from the entertaining contest was fair reward, though victory was in reach.

“I believe we are the strongest team in the zone and a point was good, but we could have had the three points,” said the former West Bromwich Albion striker.

Barnes, who was a member of the Copa America team, noted that Jamaica’s stock has gone up significantly in recent times and people are beginning to see that the nation’s football is coming of age.

“I think now everyone is standing up and realising how strong this team is, which I think is a really good thing for the island. The fact that Argentina and Uruguay paying us compliments after Copa (America) shows you where we are… our FIFA ranking may not show it, but everyone is talking about Jamaica,” he said.

Barnes, who joined the Reggae Boyz band earlier this year, wants to see a unit that makes fewer mistakes in games.

In looking back at the Costa Rica match, the six-foot player says conceding “two sloppy goals” forced the draw, but in the same breath made it clear that football is not a perfect art.

“In football, people make mistakes that will happen, but I am sure if we can eradicate those mistakes and those lapses in concentration, then we will win games,” he expressed.

As for his personal effort in Wednesday’s encounter, Barnes thought he did well even though he did not hit the target, but contributing to the effort in other meaningful ways.

“I thought I did well and I held up the ball well and made some really good runs, so yes, I was pleased with my personal performance,” he said.

Jamaica are due to engage Canada at 5:30 pm in the first game of a double-header at the BBVA Compass stadium, El Salvador and Costa Rica clash in a Central American derby at 8:00 pm.