HOUSTON, Texas — Je-Vaughn Watson is close enough to his home in Dallas where he plays his profession football, so the weather and the overall feel of the land in Houston will all be familiar to him.

The Jamaican midfielder had moved north by some 240 miles from Houston after a full season here with Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit the Houston Dynamo, so the 29-year-old is really just coming back home.

Only today, he will not be engaged in a state derby, but his mission is of a higher calling.

Watson is part of a Reggae Boyz team making final preparations for their CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Canada at the BBVA Compass Stadium here. Kick-off will be at 5:30 pm local time, the same as Jamaica.

Following their 2-2 tie with Costa Rica in the opening contest of Group B in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Watson joins his teammates in setting the expectations high. Nothing less, it seems, but victory will suffice as the Boyz seek to consolidate their position in the group.

But while Jamaica is considered a “stronger” team than Canada, Watson expects a tough contest. By his estimation, it could even be a tougher one than that of Costa Rica.

“We have a lot of Jamaicans in Canada and they always come to beat Jamaica. I expect it to be a harder game as they will want to prove that they are a better team,” said the former Sporting Central Academy standout.

But having demonstrated a fighting spirit in Wednesday night’s match-up that saw Jamaica recovering from a deficit to a share of the spoils, Watson thinks replicating those qualities could be decisive in the push for maximum points.

“All we have to do is show the same character and intensity and score some goals,” he noted.

“For the next game we have to try and keep a clean sheet, so once we keep a clean sheet, we can win the game,” Watson added.

With one point in the bag and joint group leader with Costa Rica, Watson says the team is poised to take full control of Group B if they can get it right against Canada today and later, El Salvador.

“It’s a good point and now we have two games left and if we win in Houston and in Toronto that will take us to the top of the group,” he said.

“We came and showed character to come from 1-2 down and tie the game and I think that’s a good look for the team.”

Watson argues further that the Copa America experience is proving and will continue to prove valuable as the Boyz target the knockout stage of the Gold Cup.

“Although we lost all three games, I think that experience (Copa America) did well for the team and the country going forward,” he noted.

— Sean Williams