With respect to the sacred nature of Good Friday to many Jamaicans, president of Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell is planning an half-hour church service at the National Stadium prior to the World Cup qualifier between Jamaica and Costa Rica on March 25.

“This is a holy day for Christians, and we have decided to have a short service to give God thanks for the achievement and for all that he has done,” Burrell said while speaking at an ISSA award function at Terra Nova Hotel recently.

He continued: “It was not our wish to play on Good Friday, but we had no choice because every fixture within the confederation and around the world will be played on that day, so they could not change it. So we had to go for the next best thing, which is to hold a service with pastors and then we get into the regular order of things.

“I am hoping that the Christians will come out in their numbers. They can go to church and then come to football where we will pray once again. So we are hoping for a very large turnout and a lot of Christians… it should be a good day.”

Burrell said Coach Winfried Schaefer has promised him that Jamaicans are in for a treat as the Reggae Boyz will not be satisfied with anything but victory.

“Coach Schaefer told me that Jamaicans are once again going to be proud, because when we take on Costa Rica he is going out there for nothing less than a win. So I am asking for full support from the entire country,” he stressed.

Jamaica, under the guidance of Coach Winfried Schafer, had a glorious past year with outstanding performances at the Copa America and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, historically reaching the final of the latter.

The Boyz are currently in third position in Group B on three points from two games, the same as Panama. Costa Rica head the standing with six points, while Haiti are at the foot of the four-team table without a point.

— Sherdon Cowan