FOR this newspaper a dominant thought is ‘So far, so good’ as we reflect on the Reggae Boyz’s performance thus far in the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League.

Readers will recall that for the Jamaicans, the competition started in relatively shaky fashion under new coach, Englishman Mr Steve McClaren, what with that 0-0 result against much-lower-rated Cuba at the National Stadium in Jamaica in early September.

The situation improved within days with a 2-1 win over always-combative Honduras and before an intimidating capacity crowd in that country’s capital city, Tegucigalpa.

It got even better on Thursday night with the Reggae Boyz’s 2-0 win over Nicaragua before 26,000 spectators in that country’s capital, Managua.

With a FIFA ranking of 131 compared to Jamaica’s 61, some may have expected Nicaragua to be far less competitive than they turned out to be — even as we accept they were on their home turf and before a h
uge home crowd.

But football, like all sport, can be a great leveller. The Nicaraguans, better known for their exploits in baseball and boxing, showed that they are a growing force in Concacaf and that their 14-game unbeaten run was no fluke.

Indeed, but for another heroic performance by Jamaican goalkeeper Mr Andre Blake, Nicaragua may well have come away with at least a share of the points.

We are happy that even as he would have been quietly satisfied with the result, Jamaica’s head coach pointed to weaknesses, not least in terms of his team’s “possession” of the football.

In that respect, much turns on personnel on the field. In Thursday night’s game our impression was that creative midfielder Mr Tyreek Magee added considerably to Jamaica’s capacity to keep the football.

Finding that right balance in personnel between ‘touch’ players, such as Messrs Demarai Gray and Magee, as against others who may not be so comfortable on the ball but provide the ‘steel’ and ‘backbone’ so necessary for any team, will be among his challenges as Mr McClaren goes forward.

From this newspaper’s perspective, a pleasing aspect was Jamaica’s efficiency and sturdiness in defence, with players seeming to work as a unit rather than merely as individuals.

And, of course, as we have said, Mr Blake, as always, was a standout performer.

Presumably, Thursday night’s performance, following on that in Tegucigalpa a month ago, will inspire a full house at the National Stadium on Monday evening as the Reggae Boyz host Honduras.

The latter are in second place behind the Jamaicans after a 3-2 win over French Guiana on Thursday night. In the other group game Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago drew 2-2.

The importance of a large crowd at “The Office” on Monday evening, playing the celebrated role of ‘12th man’ for the Reggae Boyz, cannot be overstated.

That home support — clad in the black, green and gold and crammed into the National Stadium for every game — was a huge factor in the build-up to Jamaica’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup in France two and a half decades ago.

As much as is infinitely possible, that mood, that atmosphere, should be recreated as we push to be at the table for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.