JAMAICA'S DATE for one of their biggest ever friendly internationals has been set, according to a report Sunday on British television station Skysports.
The date reported is June 3, just six days before the 2006 World Cup kicks off in Germany. But according to president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Crenston Boxhill, discussions are still ongoing.
"We have been in discussion for the last two weeks and discussions have been going well. A number of dates and venues have come up including that date but we have had no confirmation.
"It is just a matter of time before we come to some agreement," Boxhill explained.
England, the 1966 World Cup winners, became interested in playing Jamaica when the Caribbean's second-ranked team, Trinidad and Tobago were drawn in the same group as England for the World Cup.
England's interest and the subsequent discussions have exicted local football fans and the national team's coaching staff alike.
"It is a game that we are really looking forward to," said technical director Wendell Downswell.
"The fact that we are playing 'the mother country' and in England too will make it an even bigger event," said the man who took over from Carl Brown and Sebastiao Lazaroni following Jamaica's exit from the World Cup qualifiers.
Jamaica's last friendly international against Australia at in October is one that was thought to have done some damage to the country's marketability and Downswell is of the opinion that this game will help to revive Jamaica's image as a football country.
EXCELLENT TEST
"It will be an excellent test for us. The whole marketability of our team will be enhanced if we perform well and we are trying to get a number of quality games before that.
"The English see this as a significant preparation for them as they will be playing a Caribbean team in the World Cup and being the top team in the Caribbean it would help them to play us," he said.
Downswell added that he would love to play against the other teams in Trinidad's group and as far as he was concerned contact was made with all the countries that qualified for the World Cup finals with a view to getting a game.
"This would be in keeping with our plan of getting at least one international game each month," he concluded.
