Mr Dexter Lembikisa’s sweet left-foot 41st-minute strike that eventually gave Jamaica a 1-0 victory over Panama in the Concacaf Nations League A third-place match on Sunday not only won us the bronze medal, it gave Jamaica its highest-ever placing in the six-year-old competition.

The victory was an excellent recovery from the disappointing 1-3 loss last Thursday to the United States which eventually took the trophy on Sunday night by defeating Mexico 2-0.

All Jamaica, we are sure, celebrated when Mr Greg Leigh climbed at the back post to head Jamaica into the lead after just 30 seconds from a cross from Mr Bobby DeCordova-Reid in that game against the USA.

The Reggae Boyz did exceptionally well to withstand the subsequent wave of attacks from the Americans who gained an equaliser from an own goal that came from the last kick of stoppage time after 90 minutes.

Jamaica, though, had all right to feel hard done because the goal came in the sixth minute of stoppage time, after the televised feed initially displayed a minimum of four minutes of time to be added, which was then changed to five minutes without explanation.

The subsequent extra-time loss to the US, therefore, was a cruel blow to the Reggae Boyz, who had gone into that semi-final fielding a vastly depleted starting line-up due to injuries and suspensions to several key players, namely Messrs Michail Antonio, Ethan Pinnock, Amari’i Bell, Demarai Gray, and Shamar Nicholson, while Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey was rightly dropped for disciplinary reasons.

That the Reggae Boyz were able to shake off that disappointment to beat Panama on Sunday is a demonstration of their fighting spirit. It also suggests to us that the team is starting to take form under Head Coach Mr Heimir Hallgrímsson.

But Mr Hallgrímsson, we are sure, recognises that there is a lot more to be done to get the team to the point where it has a deep bench and commands even greater respect from opponents. Indeed, an indication that that respect is growing came ahead of last Thursday’s semi-final from US Coach Mr Gregg Berhalter who, while noting the absence of key members of the Reggae Boyz squad, warned his team against complacency.

“We’re not taking this team lightly, and now with guys missing it’s even more serious, because we know that the guys that are getting their opportunity… are going to be giving everything to show this coach they want to be part of their squad for the Copa America. So it’s a dangerous game for us, and we’re going to be really focused on trying to play a good game and getting to the final,” he said.

“They might be missing their top talent but they still have enough to be a very competitive team,” Mr Berhalter added.

With the Nations League campaign now over, the Reggae Boyz are setting their sights on the Conmebol Copa America 2024. The Jamaicans, who are drawn in Group B, are scheduled to open their account on June 22 against Mexico. That gives Mr Hallgrímsson a mere 12 weeks to format the team into a well-oiled machine with players who are not only talented, but who respect authority and who recognise that one of the greatest glories of sport is to represent one’s country.

There should be no place in the squad for someone like Leon Bailey who clearly believes that he is more important than the team; who mistakenly thinks that his career at Aston Villa has somehow transformed him into a super star in a sport filled with players who are far more talented than he is.