HOUSTON, Texas — A number of the locally-based Reggae Boyz will get the chance to prove their worth when Jamaica face Honduras in a friendly international inside the BBVA Compass Stadium here Thursday at 7:30 pm (8:30 pm Jamaica time).

That’s the guarantee from Head Coach Theodore Whitmore as the team arrived in Houston a short while ago.

In the last game against the United States of America in Chattanooga, Tennessee, 12 days ago, Whitmore paraded Michael Binns, Ewan Grandison and Owayne Gordon in the starting team, and though he did not identify those he intends to play from the first whistle on Thursday, he made it clear that as a part of his long term objectives, he would definitely put out more local-based players in the starting team.

 “We will definitely see more local-based players in the starting line-up for Thursday night’s game because my aim is to look beyond the Caribbean Cup and the Gold Cup in the summer, but more long term over a number of years because we want to give these players a chance to develop into quality players, and it will take some time to get them to that level,” Whitmore explained to OBSERVER ONLINE.

The local contingent of 10 players, plus captain Je-Vaughn Watson, arrived here in Houston, via Miami, earlier this evening, and were set to head to the practice pitch in short order. Most, if not all of the US-based players were expected to join the training session.

And with only two such opportunities to practice ahead of Thursday’s game, Whitmore was keen to have his players concentrate on a few key areas of concern emerging from the last game.

“This game gives us a chance to look at the local-based players in another competitive environment. We want to see the team organization, team shape and team discipline, and we also want to see them limit the individual mistakes that were too many in the last game. How well we track our opponents is another area of interest, especially in the middle of the park (midfield),” assessed the technical boss.

The Boyz lost 0-1 to the US under frigid conditions in Tennessee, but Whitmore was pleased with the commitment and desire of the players to represent their country.

Still, tomorrow’s game will serve as vital preparation for the Boyz as they look to defend their Caribbean Cup title in Martinique, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States of America. Both tournaments are slated for later this summer.

Honduras, who are ranked 12 places higher than Jamaica at 65, recently won the Central American title and they will use the game to prepare for the continuation of the Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign next month.

Squad – Andre Blake, Ryan Thompson, Romario Williams, Andre Lewis, Damion Lowe, Oniel Fisher, Shamar Nicholson, Kevon Lambert, Fabian Grant, Kemar Lawrence, Dwayne Ambusley, Ladale Richie, Michael Binns, Ewan Grandison, Je-Vaughn Watson, Cory Burke, Jourdain Fletcher, Sergio Campbell, Rosario Harriott and Owayne Gordon.

Ian Burnett

Sports Editor