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We know these players should be able to lead this group:
OSHANE JENKINS ST.GEORGES COLLEGE/CAVALIERS RICHARD TRENCH RUSEAS HIGH/RENO JORGHINO JAMES KINGSTON COLLEGE/ HARBOUR VIEW ALVAS POWELL PAUL BOGLE HIGH/PORTMORE UNITED
Have Jamaica had a u20 camp lately? It's likely that Mexico and the USA will be very tough to beat at this level. Mexico's youth programs are on another level lately. If those two powers qualify, that would leave two open spots to get to the u20 world cup for the likes of Jamaica, Canada, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, T&T, El Salvador, Guatemala.
Speaking as a Canada fan, I like Canada's chances of progressing through. We have several players who have signed MLS contracts and several other plays with youth sides in Europe, MLS academy teams and a couple in U.S college that are all eligible. These short tournaments are always difficult and unpredictable. It'd be nice of one of us could knock off one of the big boys on the way.
WTF! I see the hatred and tribalism has reached a new level. I thought I was seeing wrong but yes, Haiti is taken off the map completely (page 4) while every caribbean nation is shown. Is this Jamaican wishful thinking?
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Originally Posted By: Soccerpro
Have Jamaica had a u20 camp lately? It's likely that Mexico and the USA will be very tough to beat at this level. Mexico's youth programs are on another level lately. If those two powers qualify, that would leave two open spots to get to the u20 world cup for the likes of Jamaica, Canada, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, T&T, El Salvador, Guatemala.
Speaking as a Canada fan, I like Canada's chances of progressing through. We have several players who have signed MLS contracts and several other plays with youth sides in Europe, MLS academy teams and a couple in U.S college that are all eligible. These short tournaments are always difficult and unpredictable. It'd be nice of one of us could knock off one of the big boys on the way.
A local based squad was in training in June/July 2012.
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KINGSTON, Jamaica - Puerto Rico will host Barbados immediately after Bermuda faces Haiti on July 25 to open Caribbean qualifying for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, the Caribbean Football Union announced Thursday.
Individual match schedules announced Thursday for three of the four groups has Group 3 in Mayaguez concluding on July 29 with Puerto Rico facing Haiti.
Group 2 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, with Cuba, Aruba and St. Kitts & Nevis will be played July 26-30, and Group 4 in Kingstown, St. Vincent, with Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Suriname will be August 8-12. Group 1 in Antigua with Grenada, Curacao and Dominica will be played simultaneously with Group 4 August 8-12.
The CFU originally announced that all four groups would be played July 23-31.
The four group winners along with the best runner-up will advance to a final round of qualifying with host Jamaica November 3-11.
Five of the six teams from the final round of Caribbean qualifying will advance to the CONCACAF championship in Puebla, Mexico, February 18-March 2.
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Bermuda finished third, beating Barbados 2-0 on Sunday.
Haiti and Puerto Rico are the first two teams to reach the final round of Caribbean qualifying, which originally was only supposed to have six teams.
But on Saturday, the Caribbean Football Union decided to expand the final round to eight teams: the four first-round group winners, three second-place teams and final-round host Jamaica.
The final round November 3-11 will determine the Caribbean's five qualifiers for the CONCACAF U-20 finals in Puebla, Mexico, February 18-March 2.
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Trinidad and Tobago claimed the last berth in the final round of Caribbean qualifying for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, beating host St. Vincent and the Grenadines 3-0 Sunday night to earn second place in its group.
Trinidad joined final-round host Jamaica, first-round group winners Curacao, Cuba, Haiti and Suriname, along with fellow second-place finishers Antigua & Barbuda and Puerto Rico in the eight-team Caribbean finals.
Curacao and Antigua also earned their places on Sunday, playing each other to a 3-3 draw in North Sound, Antigua, to finish both with seven points atop Group 1.
Jomal Williams and Adan Noel both scored their second goal in three games to lead Trinidad, which finished with six points in Group 4, just behind Suriname on goal difference. Earlier Sunday, Guyana beat Suriname 2-1 in Kingstown, St. Vincent.
Suriname had assured itself of a berth on Friday when it defeated Trinidad 3-0.
In North Sound, Antigua, Elvis Thomas had all three goals for the host against Curacao, adding to the pair he scored in a 4-0 victory over Dominica on Wednesday. The draw assured Curacao of the Group 1 title on goal difference.
The weekend results also set the match-ups for the final round of Caribbean qualifying with Haiti, Curacao, Trinidad and Puerto Rico in Group A, and host Jamaica, Suriname, Cuba and Antigua in Group B.
Five nations will qualify for the 12-team CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Pueba, Mexico February 18-March 2.
A complete schedule of matches was expected to be released by the Caribbean Football Union.
Caribbean U-20 Final Round Group A Haiti Curacao Trinidad and Tobago Puerto Rico
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Simpson gets trial with young Boyz
Former Reggae Boy Fitzroy Simpson. - File
Jake Simpson, son of former Reggae Boy Fitzroy Simpson, is set to be handed a trial for the national under-20 team ahead of next year's CONCACAF Under-20 Championship a qualifier for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
The 17-year-old Simpson, who currently plies his trade for League One team Swindon Town FC, the third tier of English football, is reportedly set to arrive in the island tomorrow for a six-day trial, supervised by the team's coaches Luciano Gama and Andrew Edwards.
extra dimension
"It's a trial for the squad building for their World Cup qualifiers and it will really help him add an extra dimension to his game," the elder Simpson, who was a part of the country's historic appearance at the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, told UK-based publication the Advertiser.
Similar to his father Fitzroy, the younger Simpson plays as a central midfielder.
"He's still only 17 and this will give him the chance to experience a different type of game and it can only help him as a footballer," he added.
Simpson who joined up with Jamaica's national team in 1997 and went on to earn some 22 caps, believes the competition will be good for the young player, should he be selected to form a part of the national squad.
"This group of players plays against some pretty strong opposition, like Argentina and Mexico, so it's exciting. He's worked his socks off over the summer and it's a massive year for his development."
The CONCACAF U-20 Championship will take place in Mexico from 18 February and 2 March 2013, and the top four teams will qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
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Ja U-20, MoBay United in Champions League showdown Published: Wednesday | August 22, 2012 0 Comments MoBay's Brian Brown.file photos MoBay's Brian Brown.file photos 1 2 3 >
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
Jamaica Under-20 and Montego Bay United will square off today in the final of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Champions League at the Edward Seaga Oval with match time set for 6 p.m.
The game will be preceded by the third place play-off between KSAFA teams Cavalier and Harbour View at 4 p.m.
Both the young Reggae Boyz and Montego Bay United were invited to the annual competition which is intended to aid in the preparation of teams from the KSAFA for the upcoming season.
The Jamaica Under-20 team is gearing up for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-20 qualifiers in November, while Montego Bay United will be participating in their second season of the Red Stripe Premier League which commences on September 2.
"I am happy that we have reached the final, as that was the aim," young Reggae Boyz coach Luciano Gama expressed. "We wanted practice games and the further we went was the more we got, and we are happy that we have reached the semi-final and then to play again in the final," the Brazilian added.
Tough group
The young Boyz advanced from a very tough group with dethroned champions Arnett Gardens, last season's National Premier League runners-up Boy's Town, seasoned campaigners Harbour View and Rae Town. They registered a 1-0 win over Arnett, 2-0 over Boys' Town, suffered a 2-1 loss to Rae Town and a 2-0 loss to Harbour View.
They then emerged from a hard-fought game with newly promoted Premier League team Cavalier prevailing 3-2 in the semi-finals.
"It is very good preparation (for the qualifiers), as they are playing against men who are older than them and stronger, and in the last game against Cavalier they gave a gutsy performance," Gama said.
"What we know of Montego Bay is that they are a hard-running team, so it is either we have to try and counter it by slowing down the game or passing the ball around, because if they are playing fast it doesn't make sense we go out there and play fast also," he added.
Montego Bay United are yet to taste defeat in the competition, as they played to a 0-0 draw with Cavalier, before beating Allman/Woodford 5-0 and playing out a 1-1 draw with Waterhouse during the group stage. They then edged Harbour View 1-0 in the semi-finals. Javanie Mitchell, Oshane Boothe and Kareem Manning are three of the top players on the Under-20 team.
Montego Bay United boast the competition's joint leading scorer in former Rusea's High school standout Brian Brown, who along with Cavalier's Mitchly Waul have found the back of the net on three occasions.
"I have to say that it is a very good tournament and I appreciate a lot having been invited to the competition," Montego Bay United's coach Neider Dos Santos said yesterday. "I expect both teams to play very good football tomorrow in that final."
The Brazilian added: "At pre-season we worked a lot on the physical side of the game to get the players ready to go, but you need also match fitness and we need a good competition."
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Junior Reggae Boyz capture Champions League
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Under-20 Reggae Boyz celebrate with the KSAFA Champions League trophy. - Winston Sill
The Jamaica National Under-20 team has left the nation full of optimism after capturing the 2012 Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Champions League title, following a 2-1 triumph over Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) campaigners Montego Bay United at the Edward Seaga Oval.
The young Reggae Boyz held a 2-0 advantage at the half-time courtesy of goals from Kereen Manning, who netted a penalty in the 14th minute and Omar Holness in the 24th.
Montego Bay United's consolation goal came in the 53rd minute, as Brian Brown netted his fifth goal of the competition to emerge as top scorer.
The Neider Dos Santos-coached Montego Bay United, who finished sixth last season, appeared to have taken their opponents lightly in the first half and were completely outplayed. The young Reggae Boyz used their pace and trickery to good effect, as they took the game to their more senior counterparts, which resulted in them earning a penalty in the 12th minute, after Paul Wilson was fouled in the area by Montego Bay United's Shavar Campbell.
Jorginho James was given the responsibility of giving the young Reggae Boyz the lead, but he was thwarted by Jacomeno Barrett, who made a brilliant double save. Barrett dived well to his right to save James' effort before springing to his feet to deny Omar Holness' follow-up shot.
The Boyz did not let their heads drop, however, and two minutes later got the goal they deserved, as Manning fired past Barrett from inside the area after fortuitously gaining possession.
Holness got his goal 10 minutes later to double the lead, as he slotted past the onrushing Barrett, after he was neatly played through by captain Alvas Powell, as the Boyz launched a swift counter attack.
"The first half was atrocious, it was simply ridiculous," Dos Santos said.
"In sports, you win, lose and draw and I am always ready to lose, it is a part of life, but not in the way that we played in the first half; without heart and without life," he added.
Montego Bay United came out a much more aggressive unit in the second half and were given a lifeline in the 53rd minute, when Brown applied a neat finish to a cross supplied by Ladale Ritchie.
Montego Bay United's aggression, combined with frustration eventually got the better of them, as the game wore on resulting in two of their players being given marching orders. Ritchie committed his second bookable offence in the 71st minute, while Graeme Green was shown a straight red card in the 73rd minute.
Jamaica will play host in November to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-20 qualifiers, where they will be grouped with Suriname, Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda.
"We know we are going to face difficult teams at the CONCACAF level, also at the Caribbean level and that kind of pressure that they faced in the second half, it is very good to improve the team," Reggae Boyz coach Luciano Gama said.
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Good start to preparations after the seniors take care of business, it will be time to give these players international preparation against other senior teams/clubs.
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Gama wants support for talented U-20s
BY HOWARD WALKER Observer Senior Reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, August 24, 2012
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JAMAICA'S Under-20 Brazilian coach Luciano Gama is pleading with corporate Jamaica to support the youth teams following their encouraging 2-1 win over Montego Bay United to lift the St Andrew Football Association's (KSAFA) Champions League trophy on Wednesday night.
The Under-20 unit was invited to participate in the tournament to get quality game time and experience for the World Cup Qualifiers in November, and Gama was more than pleased with what the youngsters' showing against much older players.
"We hope somebody saw them and give support because they deserve it. We're not disappointed, but we know something better can be done," Gama pointed out.
"The (Jamaica Football) Federation (JFF) has a lot of problems and somebody needs to help and put a little bit more in the Federation and support the boys. We have a very good team and a very good Under-17 team," he noted.
Jamaica, who will be hosting the eight-team final Caribbean round World Cup Qualifiers, are drawn in Group B alongside Cuba, Suriname and Antigua and Barbuda.
"We will be home and will show Jamaica what we can do and go to CONCACAF and I know we can qualify for the next World Cup," said a confident Gama as the Young Reggae Boyz celebrated in the background.
He added: "I saw a lot of personality and the will to win; a lot of maturity although they had some ups and downs that is normal for their age."
Goals by defender Kareem Manning and Omar Holness in the 13th and 27th minutes secured the win, while Brian Brown pulled one back for Montego Bay United in the 53rd for a tournament-leading fourth goal.
The Under-20s, clearly the crowd favourite in the KSAFA tournament involving Premier League teams and KSAFA Divisional champions, turned in some sterling displays and beat four top-flight outfits in the process.
They opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over last season's second placed Premier League team Boys' Town and followed that up with a close 1-0 win over Arnett Gardens.
They then suffered consecutive losses 1-2 to Rae Town and 0-1 to Harbour View before rebounding in style with a 3-2 semi-final victory over Cavalier and a 2-1 triumph over a MoBay United team that got three red cards in the final.
Ladale Ritchie first picked up his second caution in the 71st minute and was followed by Graeme Green two minute later for abusive language.
Goalkeeper Jacomena Barrett joined the red card party after the final whistle.
Team manager Roy Simpson acknowledge the importance of this morale-boosting win, especially playing with a Jamaican team that comprises only KSAFA Under-20 players.
"We must distinguish that this is a KSAFA Under-20 and we will inject some of the rural players to continue preparations for the tournament in November," said Simpson.
"The point must be made that these are Premier League teams and the others are champions in their respective KSAFA competitions and if we can play against them... the average age on our team is 18 and if they can come out victorious, it's a good sign going into the tournament," he noted.
"We will keep them in camp and carry them around the island to play against different teams and hope that we will have an international camp with them.
"But we will keep the unit together and the coaches will step down the programme and continue the technical and background work," said Simpson
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Reasons why we should not be using schoolboys at the CONCACAF U20 final round.
Gilchrist described his charges as 'young and inexperienced', but believes they can win it all this year.
"We have a fairly young and inexperienced team again this year, with the average age around 17 years. But even with that, I still think we can be champions if the players bring their A game to each match.
This from a High School Coach calling a squad with avergae age of 17, YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED!!!!!
Wha, at 17/18 years old they should be almost done with schoolboy football!!!!!
