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Reggae Boyz looking to rebuild Robert Bailey, Star Writer
Reggae Boy Jermaine Taylor (left) dribbles away from August Town's Kemel Mullings in a practice match at the UWI Bowl. The game ended in a 0-0 draw. - Ian Allen
Following Jamaica's first-round exit from the just-concluded CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States, national coach Theodore Tappa Whitmore said he would be turning his attention to locally based players for two friendly internationals later this month.
The Reggae Boyz will battle South Americans giants Ecuador on August 12 at Giants Stadium in New York, and Caribbean neighbours St Kitts and Nevis four days later in St Kitts. Whitmore added that he is confident the local players can get the job done.
disappointing
"Every game that we play, we have to take it very seriously because we have to look to the future and where we go from here," said Whitmore. "After our disappointing performance in the Gold Cup, we just have to sit and rebuild for the start of our next world cup campaign."
Whitmore, who was given a one-year contract by the Jamaica Football Federation earlier this year, after former coach John Barnes seven-month contract was not renewed, said he will be placing a lot emphasis on winning both games.
"Our credibility will be on the line and we just have to approach every game professionally whether we are using our local-based players or our foreign-based players," said Whitmore.
A number of overseas players including the likes of United States-based Tyrone Marshall, Omar Cummings, and Shavar Thomas, Norway-based Demar Phillips, Rodolph Austin and Khari Stephenson will be invited for these games.
"We have a of lot players here and if our overseas players are unavailable, I believe that we have a lot local players who we can choose from," Whitmore said.
The Reggae Boyz were held to a 0-0 draw by Premier League side August Town yesterday. They will tackle a Western All-Star team in another game tomorrow
What amateurish stuff from the JFF as usual. The game is next Wednesday, but they still have not announced the full team. I would suggest that the Boyz side will be a poorly assembled hodge podge of local and foreign players. And wile they have left out some major players for this game, here is Ecuador's team:
Ecuador | Soccer | Aug 5 |
Vizuete releases squad
Ecuador's coach Sixto Vizuete unveiled the list of summoned players for the friendly against Jamaica— Antonio Valencia, Walter Ayovi and Jefferson Montero are among them.
Midfielders Walter Ayovi, Jefferson Montero and Antonio Valencia were included in coach Sixto Vizuete's list of summoned players for the friendly against Jamaica on August 12, in the United States.
Monterrey's Ayovi, Villarreal of Spain's Montero and Premier League Manchester United's Valencia will join Cristian Noboa (Ruvin Kazan, Russia), Carlos Tenorio (Al Nasr) and Segundo Castillo (Estrella Roja of Serbia).
Ecuador will take this clash— to be played at Los Gigantes stadium in New Jersey— as preparation ahead of their next games at the South American Qualifiers against Colombia and Bolivia, in September.
Vizuete's list is the following:
Goalkeepers: Marcelo Elizaga (Emelec) and Jose Francisco Cevallos (Liga Quito).
Defenders: Miguel Ibarra (Espoli), Ivan Hurtado, Isaac Mina (Deportivo Quito), Marcelo Fleitas (Emelec) and Jorge Guagua (El Nacional).
Midfielders: Walter Ayovi (Monterrey), Segundo Castillo (Estrella Roja), David Quiroz (Emelec), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Fernando Hidalgo (Barcelona), Cristian Noboa (Ruvin Kazan) and Jefferson Montero (Villarreal).
Forwards: Holger Matamoros (Deportivo Cuenca), Joao Rojas (Emelec), Carlos Tenorio (Al Nasr) and Pablo Palacios (Barcelona).
In digging around, I found this on soccer365.com. It is from Wednesday the 5th, so there are some things that need updating in light of injured players. But it is telling that no JFF announcement has been issued, so I agree with Jamatl:
Theodore Whitmore, head coach of Jamaica, also announced his roster, which is led by Major League Soccer players including goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts from the LA Galaxy, Dane Richards from the New York Red Bulls and Omar Cummings from Colorado Rapids, Shavar Thomas from Chivas USA and Tyrone Marshall from the Seattle Sounders FC.
ROSTER- JAMAICA
Goalkeepers: Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy/USA), Dwayne Miller (Harbour View/JAM)
Defenders: Jermaine Taylor (unattached), Rudolph Austin (Sportsklubben Brann/NOR), Shavar Thomas (Chivas USA/USA), Tyrone Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC/USA), Rafe Wolfe (Ferencváros/HUN)
shelton was horrible in the gold cup, but I hope both him and cummings can build on the familiarity they started to develop towards the end of the tournament
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Registered: 03/25/01
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New look Boyz to face Ecuador in friendly Harbour View utility player Lovel Palmer, who scored a scorching free kick in a 1-1 draw with a Western All-Stars on Thursday, has been named in a Reggae Boyz squad of squad of 18 to face Ecuador in a friendly international on Wednesday August 12.
The 25-year-old former St Elizabeth Technical standout last represented the country two years ago against Iran. Jermaine Taylor, now of St Georges in Portland, is back in the squad having last represented the country internationally last November. Making a return to the squad which is a blend of players based in Scandinavia, the United States of America and Jamaica is Khari Stephenson of Aalesunds SK in Norway, and Jamaica-based standouts Devon Hodges and Keammar Daley.
The team leaves the island on Sunday morning ahead of their game against the South Americans. Colombia and Venezuela will meet in the opening game at 7:00pm at the same venue.
Squad: Dwayne Miller (Harbour View), Shawn Sawyers (Portmore United); Defenders- Shavar Thomas (Chiva USA), Jermaine Taylor (St Georges), Demar Phillips (Alesunds SK), Rafe Wolfe (Ferencvaros), Eric Vernan (Portmore United), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View); Midfielders - Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros), Khari Stephenson (Alesunds SK), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann), Lovel Palmer (Harbour View), Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls); Forwards – Luton Shelton (Aalborg), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Keammar Daley (Meadhaven) and Devon Hodges (Rivoli United).
I watched the game, and Madrid toyed with TFC -- it was almost like a practice match where Madrid played in a lower gear and only shifted up when they needed to stretch their legs. White played in the second half, and Galla put in the rebound of his shot for TFC's only goal. Otherwise, White was, like most of his teammates, severely overmatched. As Serioux, the TFC defender said at the half, "they are at another level, it's almost like seeing doubles out there" -- this was his response to the movement of the Madrid players.
now i dont know about u guys but obrian white must have some class to be picked as 4th overall in the mls superdraft.
Yes, he was a big star in college, and would have gone first in the draft had he not injured his knee, but let's distinguish between college and professional football. He will eventually show whether he is going to be a top pro.
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, August 09, 2009
A peeved national head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore was scheduled to leave the island this morning with the Reggae Boyz for New Jersey to face Ecuador, ruing the absence of a few local-based players who are taking part in the Bronx League. Whitmore... you've called a squad of players and they're playing in the Bronx League
Jamaica will enter the game on Wednesday in the Giants Stadium, already without the core of their English-based players, and Whitmore was not amused.
"Again you have called a squad with a number of players and you get to understand that they are overseas playing in the Bronx League. That's something again I can't understand. Then you hear questions why you didn't call this and that," he told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
"We have Christopher Jackson from Tivoli who is in New York; Daniel Shaw, he came back from New York with injury. Sometimes I just don't understand. Desmond Breakenridge... it's a choice, they must know what they want to do," said Whitmore.
The team, which will be staying at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, is without the English-based players because that league kicked off yesterday in earnest.
Captain Ricardo Gardner (Bolton), along with senior players Ian Goodison (Tranmere), Damion Stewart (Queen's Park Rangers), Claude Davis (Derby), Jamal Campbell Ryce (Barnsley), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City), Marlon King (Wigan) and Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield United) will all be missing in action.
But Whitmore thinks this as an ideal opportunity for other players to step up to the plate and show their worth.
Said Whitmore: "Their (English) league started weekend and I want to look at some of the local younger players now. It's an opportunity for them. It's a chance for them to stamp their class and stake their claim."
Meanwhile, promising defender Jermaine Taylor makes a return to the team after being left out last season because of inactivity during the transfer struggle between Harbour View and present club St George's FC.
"Taylor have played two practice games and to be honest, he surprised me," said Whitmore of his fitness.
But with nothing really to motivate the players, having dropped out of the World Cup Qualifiers and with the CONCACAF Gold Cup over, the 1998 World Cup hero will have to try to blend the team with experience and youth for the future.
"The Gold Cup has finished and we're not in the World Cup, so we just have to split the team, half local and half overseas, each time we have a FIFA date," Whitmore pointed out.
"Like the St Kitts (August 16) game coming up, we're going to use the local players," he added.
The squad is a blend of players based in Scandinavia, the United States and Jamaica.
Harbour View's midfielder Lovel Plamer, who scored a free-kick in Jamaica's practice game against a Western All-Star aggregation last week, also makes a return to international football. Palmer last represented Jamaica two years ago against Iran.
Former Mona High Manning Cupper Dicoy Williams of Harbour View is one of three centre halves, along with Taylor and Shavar Thomas of Chivas USA.
Holding midfielder Khari Stephenson (Alesunds SK), Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros ), Rodolph Austin SK Brann) and the speedy Dane Richards (New York Red Bull) comprise the midfield.
Omar Cumming (Colorado Rapids), who scored Jamaica's only goal in the Gold Cup against El Salvador, leads a forward line which includes Luton Shelton (Aalborg), Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Keammar Daley (Tivoli Gardens) and Rivoli United's Devon Hodges.
As usual a comedy of errors. Until JA can establish a real pro league that pays, the Bronx option will continue. And Fuller and Gardner do not start playing until next Sat., so they could have come if they had been called. But I don't think that they would have wanted to, nor would their clubs have wanted them to. But, this Jermaine Taylor thing is nonsense.
Blessed are those that buck the system, they make our lives better.
