KINGSTON, Jamaica— Heimir Hallgrimsson, head coach of the Reggae Boyz says the staging of the local weekly camps with games against Jamaica Premier League (JPL) teams as well as the two-game friendly series in Trinidad and Tobago has reaped success.

Three local-based players – Arnett Gardens’ striker Kaheem Dixon, Mt Pleasant FA’s goalkeeper Shaquan Davis and Cavalier SC’s defender Richard King, were all included in the Jamaican squad for the Concacaf Nations League semi-finals against the USA in Arlington, Texas.

During a press conference last Thursday to announce the squad for the Nations League games, Hallgrimsson disclosed that assistant coach Merron Gordon has been given the responsibility of scouting the JPL for players.

“January and February was our time to focus on the domestic players, we travelled the parishes, met the people in charge of football development, did some local camps, played games against JPL teams,” Hallgrimsson said.

“So really, we put full focus on the domestic players, that kind of project finished with the two matches in Trinidad and it gave us a chance to see new players up close (and) it gave them a chance to show us how good they were and what they can offer for the national team.”

Hallgrímsson described the period as “two really good months for me especially as I learned a lot about the culture the football culture, speaking to the people in charge of the development.”

He added: “Some players from this project took their chances and I would say from these kinds of games and camps, even (if) it only gives us one player for the first team, it’s worth it, and in this current squad, we have three players from this camp in Trinidad and I would say some players really caught our attention and all of them are future reggae boys potentials.”

With the focus switching to the Nations League games and the suspension of the local camps, Hallgrimsson said they were not done with the local-based players.

“We will still have an eye on domestic football and our plan is that Merron is going to be our eyes and ears, even though we will be watching as well but he will be head of watching the JPL and the players here,” Hallgrimsson said.

Gordon said he was impressed with a number of the players who were included in the camps and those who made the squad that played the games against Trinidad.

“I think the players acquitted themselves very well, this camp for me was to see how players could transition from the local Premier League into international football, the focus in the meetings, the focus on the training, I think the guys did really well,” he said.

“Some of them knocked on the door really hard and made it a little difficult for us to select the squad for the Nations League. I think they did well and it’s just for them to continue to build on their craft and hopefully, in the future we will have more local players in the squad than we have now,” he added.