Young Boyz tackle T&T for final-round spot
published: Sunday | December 3, 2006
Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA'S UNDER-20 footballers hunt a spot in the 2007 CONCACAF U-20 final round when they tackle Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) in a first-leg game at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium today at 4:00 p.m.
The young Reggae Boyz will be hoping to capitalise on their home advantage in their home-and-away play-off series and gain a sizeable lead going into the return leg on December 6 in T&T.
In October, Jamaica finished second in Group G behind Haiti as both teams ended with seven points, but Jamaica had an inferior goal difference.
Jamaica defeated The Netherland Antilles and Bermuda 2-0 and 3-1, respectively, before playing to a 0-0 draw with Haiti.
Meanwhile, T&T finished runners-up to St. Kitts and Nevis in Group F with four points after drawing 1-1 with the Dominican Republic and losing 1-0 to St. Kitts and Nevis before beating St. Vincent and the Grenadines 3-0.
The Jamaican team has been strengthened with the inclusion of overseas-based Joel Grant and Joel Senior.
Grant, a striker who plays for Watford in the English Premier League, should add more punch up front, while Senior, who plays for Howard University in the United States, is expected to stabilise the heart of the midfield.
4-4-2 formation
Jamaica will be relying on their usual 4-4-2 formation with goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr (Reno), Kaemmar Daley (JC), Ricardo Cousins (Portmore) and Edward Campbell (Cornwall College and Village) as their main players.
Head coach Dr. Dean Weatherly is bubbling with confidence, especially after the Boyz's impressive 3-2 victory over Premier League outfit Tivoli Gardens last Thursday.
"This is a much, much stronger team than the one that travelled to Haiti. I am quite confident based on how the youths are performing especially yesterday (Thursday) against Tivoli Gardens," Weatherly said.
"The team did very well, especially the off-the-ball movements, positioning and the understanding of the game," he said.
Weatherly did admit to not knowing much about the T&T players but was quick to point out that their playing style should be the same.
"We know their general style of playing but I don't know if they will come with the same team," he said.
"It is a crucial stage now, so there might be some changes," he said. T&T coach Brian Williams said his team was here for one objective - to qualify for the final round.
Said Williams: "It is important for us to do well as our main objective is to qualify for the CONCACAF final round. We know that Jamaica are our key rivals in Caribbean football and we look forward to a good and solid game."
T&T will be no pushovers with the likes of Corneal Thomas, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Khaleem Hyland, Keon Daniel, Lester Peltier, Carlyle Mitchell, Matthew Bartholomew, Atulla Guerra, Stefan De Las, Javed Mohammed, Aaron Dowing, Christon Thomas and Elton John.
