JAMAICA’S Under-17 men’s Assistant Coach Carlton Simmonds says it’s important for the team to lay down a marker against St Lucia in their opening group game of the Concacaf Under-17 World Cup qualifiers today at Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala. Match time is 5:00 pm.

The young Reggae Boyz are aiming to top Group H, consisting of four teams, which will guarantee them a spot in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in November.

The squad and technical staff arrived in Guatemala on Saturday and conducted two training sessions ahead of the game.

Simmonds says he’s confident that the team will be able to put on a good display against the St Lucians.

“We’re very, very confident. The boys have been responding to the training, getting adjusted to the environment, and we’re very pleased. Even [on Sunday] on the last session, they were very much more acclimated than when we went to Mexico last month so we’re very comfortable that they’re going to perform tomorrow,” he said.

“It’s extremely important for us to set the tone, knowing what we have to do. It’s one of the most important things coming here in the first game,” he added.

Simmonds also believes the team won’t be affected by the conditions in Guatemala.

“We started preparation in Jamaica going up to Blue Mountain to get used to the altititude. We had two sessions and checked the breathing level of the players, and at this point we’re very confident and comfortable with what we’ve seen,” he said

The squad is made up of some of the island’s top youth players, including the Glenmuir High pair of Orel Miller and Justin Murray; Jamaica College’s Giovanni Taylor; and the Mount Pleasant Academy trio of Jahmarie Nolan, Earl Dennis and Owen Jumpp. They also have players based in the United States and Europe, including Getafe’s Ayden McFarlane, Inter Miami’s Cadriano Marsh, and New York City FC’s Jabar Johnson.

Jamaica are looking to qualify for the Under-17 World Cup for the third time, with appearances at the 1999 edition in New Zealand and at the 2011 edition in Mexico.

In the other group game, El Salvador are set to take on Cayman Islands at 8:00 pm.

Squad

Goalkeepers – Justin Murray, Johnoi Steadman, Dhamar Blair

Defenders – Jaquan Brown, Damarley Williams, Zienodean McLean, Cai-Anthony McLean, Kieran Smith, Alexander White, Jabar Johnson

Midfielders – Giovanni Taylor, Raequan Campbell-Dennis, Owen Jumpp, Ayden McFarlane, Dario White, Earl Dennis

Forwards – Orel Miller, Seymour Garfield Reid, Axel Grimaud, Jahmarie Nolan, Cadriano Marsh