Reggae Boyz start quest for Cup glory
published: Wednesday | February 21, 2007
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070221/sports/sports2.htmlHoward Walker, Staff Reporter
JAMAICA'S UNDER-20 footballers start their quest for World Cup glory today against Costa Rica in Group B action of the CONCACAF qualifiers at 4:00 p.m. (Jamaica time).
In the other Group B encounter, hosts Mexico tackle St. Kitts and Nevis at 7:00 p.m. at the Banorte Stadium.
Jamaica are hunting their second qualification to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup since the team reached the 2001 version in Argentina six years ago.
Coach Dr. Dean Weatherly is confident this talented bunch of youngsters can repeat that achievement and be one of two teams from the group to advance to Canada.
"In terms of technical ability, this team is a better team and much faster than the previous one. As you know, playing against Costa Rica, Mexico and St. Kitts is a big task," Weatherly said.
No easy task
"It is not a hurdle that we cannot climb over, but it won't be easy. So we have to go there with all guns blazing. It is one that we really need to do for Jamaica football at this stage," he said.
Jamaica need a good start against Costa Rica as the game against Mexico will prove to be their biggest test while they should do enough to secure three points against fellow Caribbean team St. Kitts & Nevis.
Jamaica's journey to the final round has not been spectacular but efficient enough so far and the players are expected to lift their game to another level.
Grant to lead attack
Striker Joel Grant, out of English Premier League club Watford, is expected to spearhead the attack. He scored both goals when the young Reggae Boyz defeated Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) 2-0 in Kingston before losing the return leg 1-0 in Marabella in December.
Grant should be ably supported by midfield general Joel Senior, Andre Fagan, Keammar Daley, captain Ricardo Cousins, Omar Persad, James Thomas, Eric Vernon, Nicholas Beckett and Dwayne Miller.
In the first-round Caribbean qualifiers, Jamaica, playing in Group G in Haiti, defeated the Netherlands Antilles and Ber-muda 2-0 and 3-1 respectively before playing to a 1-1 draw with hosts Haiti to finish second on goal difference.
To date, the Under-20s have been playing a series of local clubs as part of their preparations. They played Tafari Lions twice - winning 5-0 and drawing 1-1; they beat Seba 4-1, Waterhouse 3-1 and lost 1-0 and 3-2 to Reno and Village respectively.
Costa Rica trounced Nicaragua 7-1 before playing to a 2-2 draw with Honduras to advance to the final round.
