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Boyz take on Bahamas in Olympic Qualifier
Paul Reid
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Jamaica's coach, Wendell Downswell (centre), discusses strategy with members of the Under-23 Olympic team at the match venue yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Jamaica will not be looking past today's opponents, the Bahamas, as they kick-off their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) second-round Olympic qualifying tournament here at the Stade Sylvio Cator, starting at 4:00 pm.
Despite the Bahamas going down 6-0 to hosts Haiti in Tuesday's opening game at the same venue, coach Wendell Downswell told the Observer after a light training on the artificial surface yesterday the first objective was to get by the Bahamas hurdle.
"No, we're not looking past them" Downswell told the Observer. "We're thinking about negotiating this hurdle effectively before thinking about the next one."
Downswell said he was hoping to surpass the 6-0 margin scored by Haiti on Tuesday and in doing so, thinks Jamaica should qualify ahead of the host country to the final round.
Only the winner from this three-team group will advance.
The game could be played in rainy conditions, as it started raining steadily after yesterday's light workout, and the weather here in Port Au Prince has been cool and rainy since the Jamaican team arrived on Tuesday afternoon.
Downswell said he was hoping it would continue through the duration of the tournament.
"This is lovely weather. I would not mind if it stays like this through Saturday," he said.
He refused to entertain any questions about the game against Haiti on Saturday, telling Haitian journalists that
Jamaica "will be ready" to deal with the home crowd situation, but added, "right now it's Bahamas we're looking at."
Both overseas-based players Luton Shelton of English Championship outfit Sheffield United and Rafe Wolfe of Belgian team Royal Whitestar are included in the starting team to be led by Portmore United's Rudolph Austin.
Duwayne Kerr, who made his debut for Portmore in the Cash Plus Premier League on Sunday, will start in goal, while Seba United's Keneil Moodie will partner Austin in the centre of the defence.
Village United's Troy Smith is the starting left-back, while Obrian Woodbine of Reno will be on the right.
Ricardo Cousins of Portmore and Nicholoy Findlayson of Reno will play central midfield with Wolfe and another Portmore player, Eric Vernon, the attacking midfielders. Shelton and Meadheaven's Keamar Daley will do the striking duties in the 4-4-2 formation.
Downswell said he was "quite confident going into (today's) game" after yesterday's workout, which lasted just over 40 minutes under the watchful eyes of the Haitian team and coaches.
He said the players were not given too much to do: "Nothing too much, we just took the players through their paces, working on a few combinations in a low intensity and low volume, just working up a sweat and get a feel of the surface."
The Jamaican coach said he was "overall pretty satisfied; no injuries and hope nothing freaky happens and we will be in good stead".
He admitted he did not know too much about the Bahamian team that advanced after their first round was abandoned, but said, "Based on what we saw (on the television) we need to come out and press them.
"Technically, they did not look so efficient against Haiti, so we need to come out and put them under early pressure, get some early goals and consolidate from there."
Boyz take on Bahamas in Olympic Qualifier
Paul Reid
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Jamaica's coach, Wendell Downswell (centre), discusses strategy with members of the Under-23 Olympic team at the match venue yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Jamaica will not be looking past today's opponents, the Bahamas, as they kick-off their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) second-round Olympic qualifying tournament here at the Stade Sylvio Cator, starting at 4:00 pm.
Despite the Bahamas going down 6-0 to hosts Haiti in Tuesday's opening game at the same venue, coach Wendell Downswell told the Observer after a light training on the artificial surface yesterday the first objective was to get by the Bahamas hurdle.
"No, we're not looking past them" Downswell told the Observer. "We're thinking about negotiating this hurdle effectively before thinking about the next one."
Downswell said he was hoping to surpass the 6-0 margin scored by Haiti on Tuesday and in doing so, thinks Jamaica should qualify ahead of the host country to the final round.
Only the winner from this three-team group will advance.
The game could be played in rainy conditions, as it started raining steadily after yesterday's light workout, and the weather here in Port Au Prince has been cool and rainy since the Jamaican team arrived on Tuesday afternoon.
Downswell said he was hoping it would continue through the duration of the tournament.
"This is lovely weather. I would not mind if it stays like this through Saturday," he said.
He refused to entertain any questions about the game against Haiti on Saturday, telling Haitian journalists that
Jamaica "will be ready" to deal with the home crowd situation, but added, "right now it's Bahamas we're looking at."
Both overseas-based players Luton Shelton of English Championship outfit Sheffield United and Rafe Wolfe of Belgian team Royal Whitestar are included in the starting team to be led by Portmore United's Rudolph Austin.
Duwayne Kerr, who made his debut for Portmore in the Cash Plus Premier League on Sunday, will start in goal, while Seba United's Keneil Moodie will partner Austin in the centre of the defence.
Village United's Troy Smith is the starting left-back, while Obrian Woodbine of Reno will be on the right.
Ricardo Cousins of Portmore and Nicholoy Findlayson of Reno will play central midfield with Wolfe and another Portmore player, Eric Vernon, the attacking midfielders. Shelton and Meadheaven's Keamar Daley will do the striking duties in the 4-4-2 formation.
Downswell said he was "quite confident going into (today's) game" after yesterday's workout, which lasted just over 40 minutes under the watchful eyes of the Haitian team and coaches.
He said the players were not given too much to do: "Nothing too much, we just took the players through their paces, working on a few combinations in a low intensity and low volume, just working up a sweat and get a feel of the surface."
The Jamaican coach said he was "overall pretty satisfied; no injuries and hope nothing freaky happens and we will be in good stead".
He admitted he did not know too much about the Bahamian team that advanced after their first round was abandoned, but said, "Based on what we saw (on the television) we need to come out and press them.
"Technically, they did not look so efficient against Haiti, so we need to come out and put them under early pressure, get some early goals and consolidate from there."
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