RJR SPORTS
Pan Am footballers among local invitees for Costa Rica friendly
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
RJR Sports understands that five members of Jamaica's silver medal winning team at last year's Pan American Games in Brazil are among the 22 local invitees for the February 6 friendly international against Costa Rica at the national stadium.

Goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr, defender Keneil Moodie, captain and mid fielder Ricardo Cousins, Eric Vernon and striker Kemar Daley.

Arnett Gardens central defender Craig White, Waterhouse's Irvino English and Tivoli's Dwight Heron will also attend the training sessions directed by technical director Rene Simoes.

The other invitees include Richard McCallum, Dwayne Miller, Chris Harvey, Desmond Breakenridge, Christopher Jackson, Adrian Reid, Jermaine Hue, Nicoloy Findlayson, Jermain Howell, Richard Edwards, Jerome Howell and Darion Phidd of St. Georges.

Meanwhile, President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Captain Horace Burrell says plans are well underway for Jamaica's friendly international against the Costa Ricas on Ash Wednesday February 6.

King among invitees for Costa Rica friendly


Thursday, January 24, 2008



KING... returns to team for first time since 2006
THE much-anticipated return of Watford striker, Marlon King, was realised yesterday after he was among 14 overseas-based players invited to the Reggae Boyz's squad for next month's friendly international against Costa Rica at the National Stadium.

King returns to the senior team set-up for the first time since a losing effort against west African outfit Ghana in Leicester City, England, in May 2006. Subsequently, he was banned by the previous Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration for two years for what was reported to be "disrespectful behaviour" to then president Crenston Boxhill and other members of the JFF hierarchy at a Manchester City hotel after allegedly breaking a team curfew.

However, within days of his return to the presidency last November, Captain Horace Burrell granted King a reprieve. It was said then that the penalty was too harsh.

Other overseas-based invitees include goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (Bradford City), defenders Ricardo Gardner (Bolton Wanderers) and Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers), who were members of the France 1998 World Cup squad under Simoes.

That group is completed by Claude Davis (Derby County), Damion Stewart (Queens Park Rovers), Tyrone Marshall (Toronto FC), Shavar Thomas (Chivas), Demar Phillips (Stoke City), Omar Daley (Bradford City), Jason Morrison (Royal Whitestar), Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnsley), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City) and Luton Shelton (Sheffield United).
There was no place for the tricky Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Jermaine Johnson.Meanwhile, a 24-member local training squad has been named, of which nine members will supplement the foreign-based players for the February 6 game.

The five-day training camp will run from next Monday through Friday, and will be held at local club grounds, as well as the National Stadium as part of a conscious policy by Simoes to build the relationship between the local fans and the team.

Nine players have earned their first call-up, among them Andre Darby (Naggo Head), Craig White (Arnett Gardens), Lance Laing (Harbour View), Ricardo Cousins (Portmore United), Dwayne Phidd (St George's), Hugh Howell (Waterhouse), Eric Vernon (Portmore United), Navian Boyd (Tivoli Gardens) and Keammar Daley (Meadhaven).

The squad is completed by Rudolph Austin, Wolry Wolfe, Roen Nelson, Duwayne Kerr, Adrian Reid (Portmore United), Nicholy Finlayson (Reno), Jermaine Hue, Fabian Taylor, Dwayne Miller, Christopher Harvey (Harbour View), Richard McCallum, Desmond Breakenridge (Waterhouse), Oraine Simpson, Christopher Jackson (Tivoli Gardens), Keneil Moodie (Seba United).