They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

For sure, the delightful photograph on the front page of Thursday’s edition of this newspaper conveyed joy way beyond words.

Readers no doubt know that Jamaica’s Under-17 footballer Mr Jahmarie Nolan was celebrating after scoring his country’s opening goal in the 3-1 victory over Canada in Costa Rica on Wednesday. The victory ensured Jamaica’s place at the age-group FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November.

Starting the game needing only a draw to advance ahead of group favourites Canada, the victory meant that the young Reggae Boyz finished on maximum nine points, having won all their games.

To say the Under-17s have made us all proud is to put it very mildly. We are reminded that this is Jamaica’s third qualification for a FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup, having also advanced in 1999 in New Zealand and 2011 in Mexico.

In 2001, Jamaica’s Under-20 men also qualified for that age-group World Cup in Argentina. Unsurprisingly, head of Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Mr Michael Ricketts is dedicating the achievement to those — especially in western Jamaica — struggling to rebalance their lives, three and a half months after Hurricane Melissa’s rampage.

“It is so important and it’s critical that it happens at this time,” said Mr Ricketts as he contemplated the lifting of spirits that will come even for those with little or no interest in sport. Indeed, that lift becomes even more relevant following word of an impending new tax package to help counter the US$9-billion economic fallout from Melissa’s impact. Though expected, the news comes as depressing reminder that, for most Jamaicans, life is likely to get much harder before it gets better. Hence Mr Ricketts assertion that the Under-17 footballers have given Jamaicans “something to smile about…”

Like the rest of us, Mr Ricketts was gutted by the failure of the senior Reggae Boyz to qualify automatically for the senior men’s FIFA World Cup scheduled for Mexico, United States, and Canada this summer.

Wednesday’s achievement by the Under-17s will doubtless provide motivation and inspiration for their seniors who are in with a second chance at World Cup qualification in play-offs next month. National euphoria would be boundless should the senior Reggae Boyz get past New Caledonia and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

And what if our West Indies cricketers convert their fine start to the ongoing ICC Twenty20 World Cup by winning that tournament?

We dare to dream.

All should take note that the success of this Under-17 football squad did not happen by chance. Mr Ricketts tells us that the JFF has “invested heavily in our youth programmes over the last few years…”

Finally, we believe it’s appropriate to recognise that a recurring factor in all of Jamaica’s age-group men’s qualification to FIFA World Cup tournaments is the current head coach of the Under-17s, Mr Wendell Downswell.

Mr Ricketts asserts that Mr Downswell “knows how to qualify [youth teams], so he was a great addition to the staff…”

An admirably modest, empathetic personality who was an outstanding attacking footballer at all levels, Mr Downswell knows as well as anyone else that the challenge now will be to inspire his charges to even higher heights in Qatar.