ST JAMES, Jamaica — National Under-17 head coach Wendell Downswell has expressed disappointment with the deteriorating condition of Jarrett Park in Montego Bay, saying concerns about the playing surface forced him to relocate a scheduled practice match ahead of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The young Reggae Boyz were expected to face Jamaica Premier League outfit Montego Bay United at the historic venue, but Downswell said the poor state of the field posed too great a risk to his players, who are preparing to represent Jamaica on football’s biggest stage at the youth level.

“It was surprising to me that it is in such a deplorable state because the match should have been played there. If we played that match there, we wouldn’t have any player to go to the World Cup. Believe you me,” Downswell told Observer Online.

He called for urgent intervention to rehabilitate the facility, which was once regarded as one of the premier football venues in western Jamaica.

“We need to do something about Jarrett Park to bring it back to where it was,” he urged.

Downswell, who previously represented Westmoreland-based Premier League club Reno, reflected on the glory days of Jarrett Park, recalling the electric atmosphere and passionate supporters who made playing at the venue a memorable experience.

He said matches routinely attracted massive crowds, with spectators arriving several hours before kick-off to secure the best viewing spots, while others gathered on the nearby hillside to catch a glimpse of the action.

“I remember if it’s a five o’clock match, you have to be here from 12 to one o’clock to get your space, and also up on the hill,” he recalled. “It was magnificent. I am not overstating.”

His comments highlight the stark contrast between the venue’s celebrated past and its present condition, raising renewed concerns about the maintenance of one of Montego Bay’s most iconic sporting facilities.

Downswell was speaking to the Observer following a dinner hosted in honour of the national Under-17 squad at Coral Cliff in Montego Bay by Montego Bay United manager Yoni Epstein.

The young Reggae Boyz are preparing to make their third appearance at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, scheduled to kick off in Qatar on November 19.

Jamaica have been drawn in Group E, where they will face European powerhouse Italy, along with Ivory Coast and Uzbekistan.

The team booked its place at the global showpiece in February through the 2026 Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers.