Boyz head east - Visit China for August 10 friendly International
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
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The Reggae Boyz's eye-catching display at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and consequent soar up the FIFA Rankings to an attractive 38th, seem to have caught the attention of the rest of the footballing world.
Following "a spike in inquiries" for possible games against the Caribbean's number one, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has concluded negotiations with China for a friendly game in that country on the next FIFA date of August 10.
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"Based on our recent performance in the Gold Cup and our flight up the FIFA rankings, the Reggae Boyz brand has indeed become more marketable and the queries of the team have been flooding in," said JFF president Captain Horace Burrell yesterday, mere hours after sealing the deal with his east Asian counterparts.
The game, which will be the first for the Boyz since their Gold Cup exploits last month, will be played in the eastern Chinese city of Heifi, the capital and largest city of Anhui Province.
As part of the contract between the JFF and the Chinese Football Association, Burrell disclosed that both teams must field "their strongest teams".
"We will have our best possible squad for this match-up as is dictated by terms of the agreement, and we have also demanded their strongest, so I expect it to be a highly entertaining game between one of Asia's strongest teams and a Jamaican outfit that has shown superb form and quality in recent times," notes the head of local football.
It is expected that the bulk, if not all, of the Gold Cup squad will be selected for the encounter which forms part of the pre-World Cup qualifying preparation.
Barring surprises, Jamaica's outfit should include USA-based Shavar Thomas (captain), Dane Richards, Ryan Johnson, Jermaine Taylor, Donovan Ricketts; Europe-based Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin, Jason Morrison, Omar Daley and local-based Keammar Daley, to name a few.
China's charge will be led by captain Du Wei, top striker Hao Haidong, Shamdong Luneng and Deng Zhuoxiang.
Burrell, who is acting president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), said the aim of the federation is to take full advantage of all available FIFA calendar dates leading into the Caribbean leg of World Cup qualification set to kick off late November.
"We want to play as many games as possible both home and abroad, but we face enormous challenges hosting matches at 'The Office'. It is very crucial for us to have games at the team's headquarters, so the players' confidence playing in front of their home support will remain strong.
"But the reality is that staging games here from an economical standpoint is not easy and it's pointless to have the games and keep losing great sums of money that we can't afford. Therefore, it has to be a collaborative effort among all stakeholders, mainly corporate Jamaica and the fans for us to successfully stage friendly matches," explained Burrell.
The China-Jamaica football engagement is of great political significance to both nations as they share bonds that go way back. The progressive communist China of today -- one of the largest economies in the world -- and tiny Jamaica have built and maintained unshakeable diplomatic and economic co-operation that has brought tremendous benefits to the Caribbean island.
With plans by both governments to open direct air travel links between the countries with the aim of boosting Jamaica's tourism arrival figures in the main, Burrell sees tremendous benefits accruing from a football game between the distant states.
"The game would first reaffirm the friendship between the countries, then it would also be an opportunity to market brand Jamaica to a massive audience of potential business investors and holiday seekers. This is not just a football match, it entails significantly more," said a Burrell, who serves on the executive of an embattled CONCACAF.
According to eloratings.com, the August meeting will be the third between the countries following a two-match friendly series back in Kingston in 1977. The first match of that year played on October 24 saw the Chinese winning 1-0, but Jamaica rallied a week later for a 3-0 triumph.
China, ranked 75th by FIFA today, have made one appearance at the Senior Men's World Cup in 2002 — four years after the Boyz made their only call on the game's biggest stage.
Captain Burrell taking advantage of Jamaica's surge in the rankings. I hope it will benefit the players and I hope he can consistently get games an he always claim that we need to rank better to get games. This is what he wanted now lets see if he can deliver the games
Check out the other threads that have posts relating to this very same issue...we all are aware now that the invitations will be coming in fast and furious...Captain wanted his economic and political stage, now he's got it...let's see what he does with it...
And what Tappa changes to face the Chinese.
Mi remember the series back in '77, even as a likkle yute...neva see any of the matches, live.
The Chinese played 3 matches in that series, two against the Jamaican National side and one against a Western All Stars side at Jarrett Park...
Alcock an dem man run ledda round di Chinese till dem sick...
Afta the match, the Chinese dem ask....'how come dese man not playing for Jamaica ???!!!'
Interesting. Asian teams usually pay well for these games, as they are always aware that opponents are reluctant to make the long trips.
I would hope that JA start to introduce some new faces from the professional ranks into the squad, because they need to start assessing talent. Let's start to audition some of those U.K. lads.
Interesting. Asian teams usually pay well for these games, as they are always aware that opponents are reluctant to make the long trips.
I would hope that JA start to introduce some new faces from the professional ranks into the squad, because they need to start assessing talent. Let's start to audition some of those U.K. lads.
Say it loud Distrib., as well TAPPA should field some of the midfielders who played against Honduras; DAMION, KEAMAR....
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Unfortunately, it will be difficult for the top U23 players to participate in this match as they have 1st round qualifying in Surinam from Aug. 3-7th.
But, we should still feature a strong squad for the lengthy journey. I do not expected to see any UK-based players as their season kickoffs on August 13th.
Unfortunately, it will be difficult for the top U23 players to participate in this match as they have 1st round qualifying in Surinam from Aug. 3-7th.
But, we should still feature a strong squad for the lengthy journey. I do not expected to see any UK-based players as their season kickoffs on August 13th.
I agree about the UK players, but I posted that because I suspect that even if the game was in Europe and a week earlier, there would still be next-to-no UK players. We will see what happens in the next friendly.
Bp, i hear your cry but you can let up off Hue now. I have; his time is dead and gone. I agree that they retired him prematurely a few years back but given all that...let it go.
Austin needs a personal coach, someone to run beside him during a few games and tell him what to do for an entire game or give him a headset and talk to him for a few games. Shock therapy could do as well...just tie a small taser with a remote control on his ears and zapp him everytime he is about to fack up. This boy is starting to worry me.
I just need a solid game plan from this game. Not only to win the game but to work on some aspect of the game where we are lacking. Midfield buildup, midfield defending etc. as such we need the top candidates for tose positions to be called up for the game.
Bp, i hear your cry but you can let up off Hue now. I have; his time is dead and gone. I agree that they retired him prematurely a few years back but given all that...let it go.
Austin needs a personal coach, someone to run beside him during a few games and tell him what to do for an entire game or give him a headset and talk to him for a few games. Shock therapy could do as well...just tie a small taser with a remote control on his ears and zapp him everytime he is about to fack up. This boy is starting to worry me.
I just need a solid game plan from this game. Not only to win the game but to work on some aspect of the game where we are lacking. Midfield buildup, midfield defending etc. as such we need the top candidates for tose positions to be called up for the game.
Bwoy DDread it look like yu join di AUSTIN bashing club too....
When him read dis ya site ya him name tun notten, now him hav everyting fi prove to whole heap a people.
I hear you say it all the time Hamilton, and Ric as well among others. This man cannot play higher up the pitch than Morrison.
I saw him for Brann the other day and the man is a mad bull! I could count the amount of times he ventured across the half line and he was hardly involved in any attacks. But as far as cleaning up in front of the back 4 and intimidating the hell out of the opposing attacking players he served up a master class. The club's supporters love him over there.
I rate him in that mold, but when he tries to go forward nowadays for JA he seems lost. Playing @ Brann Rudolph has regressed as an attacking force, he was much better as an offensive threat before he left JA.
Y is there so much haters for Rudy now?I think he is the most versatile player we have in the squad.I do agree that he has regress offensively since holding down a 1st team at SK Brann.He is however playing regular competitive football...One thing i do kno though he can not be the offensive player when we play both him and Morrison in midfield.
Isnt our high ranking supposed to bring matches on Fifa dates(where they count) and against higher ranking oponents than 75th rank CHINA???
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Wolmers,harbour view Chelsea,Barca,AC Milan,Galaxy and mi seh fi life!!!
Bp, i hear your cry but you can let up off Hue now. I have; his time is dead and gone. I agree that they retired him prematurely a few years back but given all that...let it go.
Austin needs a personal coach, someone to run beside him during a few games and tell him what to do for an entire game or give him a headset and talk to him for a few games. Shock therapy could do as well...just tie a small taser with a remote control on his ears and zapp him everytime he is about to fack up. This boy is starting to worry me.
I just need a solid game plan from this game. Not only to win the game but to work on some aspect of the game where we are lacking. Midfield buildup, midfield defending etc. as such we need the top candidates for tose positions to be called up for the game.
Bwoy DDread it look like yu join di AUSTIN bashing club too....
When him read dis ya site ya him name tun notten, now him hav everyting fi prove to whole heap a people.
At least I still want to work with him; that counts for much. I saw him as a youngster a few years back and he had a whole lot more promise than just being the muscle that he is trying to be. I think he is more capable.
Yes Sam I agree he has regressed, Shelton has regressed some as well. Although i think shelton still has goals in him that no one else on the squad has, like that first goal against grenada. Anyway, I am now convinced that Cummings is a better player than Shelton.
y everytime we have some kind of match to play them allways call those 2(MORRISON n AUSTIN)especially AUSTIN
Tappa a try build a Essien Lampard thing! which is not working and the commentators at gold cup said so that JAMAICA HAS NO CENTRAL MIDFIELD ,and every match we play a that dem a say from we a use the worst set a midfielders ever,AUSTIN N MORRISON!!!
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Full time tappa step down and leave forever(no more dunse/badmind coach).....
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Originally Posted By: Ballaprof
Originally Posted By: Hamilton Israel
Originally Posted By: Ballaprof
Hue,williams(bomber),gardner,marshall,pepe,king,pratley etc!!! me want see some stars, no morrison no austin!! please.....
Bomber came on this site and say he's retired, Hue now plays carribbean league in brooklyn.........
When did Andy said that!! all the veterans said that they will always be ready when they get the call....
Here it is
Originally Posted By: Bommadog
No sah, unno cuss me out too much on here to come out of retirement LOL
LOL...sometime people don't understand the value of a player until them gone....In all fairness though, members on this board cuss out every JA player at some point.
Let us know when you a go play Roper Cup..I will try and get fit fi play too.
