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Downswell: U-17s a work-in-progress
BY IAN BURNETT Sport Editor
Sunday, February 27, 2011
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WENDELL Downswell, coach of Jamaica's Under-17 footballers, has conceded that his FIFA World Youth Championship-bound unit is still a "work-in-progress" after their 0-2 loss to the United States in semi-final action on Friday night.
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U17 Reggae Boyz need more experience & exposure
Following Jamaica's fourth place finish at the CONCACAF Under 17 World Cup Qualifiers, Coach Wendell Downswell says a great deal will be done to give the young Reggae Boyz exposure ahead of the World Cup.
Jamaica were beaten 1-0 by Panama in the third place playoff at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex in Montego Bay, St. James on Sunday.
However, they qualified as the fourth ranked team from the CONCACAF region to the World Cup in Mexico in set for June 18 to July 10.
Coach Downswell says consistency remains a major issue for the young Reggae Boyz and all will be done to remedy this ahead of the World Cup
"The foundation has been laid, it’s just for us now to give them the necessary experience and exposure. Once they get that down on a consistent basis, they will definitely develop, they can compete but in terms of consistency, that’s something we have to develop and that will come with experience and exposure," he said.
Champions the United States, and beaten finalist Canada are the other two qualifiers from the CONCACAF region for the World Cup.
I think the coach of the under Jamaica U17 team is lacking a lot of the technical attributes for coaching this age level. I watched and read a lot of the articles leading up to the recent Championship. The 1st mistake was to only prepare for "270 minutes" and moving forward 90 minutes at a time. The coach was lost after 270 minutes and the result...180 minutes no goals for and 3 against. Jamaica has a good crop of youngsters and I am sure there are more that can be added ...the goalie needs to improve and also the defense right and left side. I think that with a good youth level coach say the guy who coached JC or someone that can channel the right winning Psychology in the team we will make a lot of noise in Mexico. The team is good and there is plenty of room for improvement in 3 months.
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I think the team was focused on its primary goal of qualify for the world cup not necessarily winning the tournament and it showed in the last two matches.
I think the team was focused on its primary goal of qualify for the world cup not necessarily winning the tournament and it showed in the last two matches.
Could another possibility why we did so poorly in the last two games be because we were simply outplayed by the US and Panama?
Just throwing other possibilities out there, that's all.
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I think the team was focused on its primary goal of qualify for the world cup not necessarily winning the tournament and it showed in the last two matches.
Could another possibility why we did so poorly in the last two games be because we were simply outplayed by the US and Panama?
Just throwing other possibilities out there, that's all.
Think both of your reasons are truth.
Still, the main goal was qualifying for the tournament and we did that. Are people not happy? this the first tournament we qualify for since 2001. I say keep coach downswell. This jamaica team needs practice and development before the tournament, but with the proper training and attitude, they can cause some damage in the tournament.
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Young Boyz look to beef up stock ahead of World Cup
Paul Reid
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
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CATHERINE HALL, St James — Head coach of the Jamaican team Wendell Downswell is seeking to strengthen the squad before they depart for Mexico for the June 18 to July 10 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
The Jamaican team qualified for the global tournament for the first time since 1999 by making the semi-finals of the two-week tournament that ended on Sunday, but they lost their last two games, beaten 2-0 by the USA in the semi-finals and 1-0 by Panama in the third-place play-off.
Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Javia Roberts (right) speeds away from Alonzo Goot of Panama during their CONCACAF Under-17 Championship third-place play-off at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday. Panama won 1-0. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) [Hide Description] Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Javia Roberts (right) speeds away from Alonzo Goot of Panama during their CONCACAF Under-17 Championship third-place play-off at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday. Panama won 1-0. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) [Restore Description] 1/1
Downswell, who was also part of the Under 20 team that had qualified for the Under-20 World Cup in Argentina in 2001, told the Observer on Sunday, that his team will start looking for players to fill certain positions, but said the process will not be open to all and sundry.
"We are targeting certain players and it will be a closed process," he said, adding that the exercise will start in another week or so, while members of the team that took part in the tournament will get some well-needed rest.
"We have the core of the team that will go to the World Cup" he said, "so we are targeting specific players in some crucial positions and that is the immediate need."
Downswell's shopping list includes "another goalkeeper, two central defenders, two midfielders and two strikers".
Meanwhile, the veteran coach said he would be approaching the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for between 10-12 international warm-up games, while continuing the preparation with games here against top club teams.
He said one of the main problems cited at the tournament was the inability of the players to concentrate for long periods and not playing two good halves in one game.
The preparation, he said, would include "70-minute games against Premier League sides and 80-minute games against top Under-21 teams". This, he said, would help condition the team as they seek to improve in the 100 days or so left to the World Cup.
The international games, he said, would help expose the players to better competition and create an environment where they can learn more.
He will also be seeking to get all the players in one area for the rest of the time before the World Cup. "We cant wait until weekends to get them," he told the Observer. "We may seek to find a school where they can all attend during the school term so they wont miss out on schoolwork, while continuing to prepare for the World Cup," Downswell added.
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Let us look at some very important early planning. Due to the ongoing violence in Mexico, what security measures does the JFF have planned for the players, parents and staff of the U17 Reggaeyutes during this tournament????
You know bout Stone Crusher gang inna Norwood? One order, Flankers and place like Granville and Rose Heights? A Mobay and it's environs dat yuh hear? Concacaf tournament jus play dung deh suh lol....
The ball is round, anything can happen, what we can be sure about is that this group of players along with some new blood will put in good performances.
the CXC exams start next month and ends early june. Same like my schedule but since we qualified there will be special plans so the boyz can take there exams after the tournament
Coach Wendell Downswell, (Photo: The Gleaner). Six players have been added to the national under-17 football squad to prepare for the World Cup from June 18 to July 10 in Mexico.
The young players have been selected from the 46 who participated in the two scouting camps at the UWI Bowl, the last of which ended on Sunday.
Despite standing out from the other prospects, Coach Wendell Downswell wants to see more from the players joining the young Reggae Boy squad.
"When you compare them with the players that we have presently, they will have to bring more to the table, so we’ll give them an opportunity to look at them. They came to the first camp but they were a bit tentative in their approach as they were not familiar with the staff and the other players. Being back now, I would expect that they will be far more relaxed in the approach and express themselves more willingly for us to see them," he said.
Two Canadian based players, Tremaine Nelson and Mikhail Farquharson were among the hopefuls at this weekend's camp. Preparation for the World Cup will intensify over the next few weeks, with the coaching staff optimistic of an overseas training camp and practice games.
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