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CONCACAF draw delights Under-20 coach Duckie
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Head coach of the National Under-20 team, Donovan Duckie, was pleased with the teams that Jamaica have been grouped with following Thursday's drawing of the group at CONCACAF's headquarters in New York.
The young Reggae Boyz were drawn alongside the United States of America (USA), El Salvador and the winner of the play-off between Honduras and St Vincent for the upcoming 2009 CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship.
Members of Jamaica's Under-20 team celebrate after beating host St Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0 on Tuesday in that country to advance to the CONCACAF World Cup final round qualifiers. (Photo: Oris Robinson)
"It a tough one, but I am a little bit more comfortable with this group," Duckie said yesterday. "We can be very competitive against these three teams."
"If the 11 games we played are anything to go by, we should get some favourable results here. But these are countries that have been there more often than us. It will be very difficult," he warned.
He continued: "The good thing is that we will be playing El Salvador, a team we played twice and came out victors against. Although you wouldn't know the true level of competitiveness in an unofficial game," he said.
"But it gave us some measurement as to where we are and the guys will be confident against these teams," Duckie added.
These four Group A teams will compete in a round-robin series at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago from March 6-15.
The top-two teams from the group will advance to the semi-final round which effectively will seal their place in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 which runs from September 25 to October 16, 2009.
Group B will consist of CONCACAF kingpins Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada and hosts Trinidad and Tobago.
Of particular interest is the fact that Group A matches will be played on natural grass, while Group B games will be contested on Star 1 Artificial Turf.
The full tournament schedule is expected to be released next week. Eleven spots have so far been filled for Egypt 2009, including one by host Egypt. From Europe, Germany, England, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Czech Republic have already booked their spots, while Australia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Korea Republic have done so from Asia.
Jamaica qualified for the 2001 Under-20 World Cup in Argentina and continue the pursuit of their second berth at this level.
Meanwhile the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has named a 27-man squad to continue preparation for the final round set for Trinidad and Tobago from March 6-15, 2009.
They will return to camp on Monday, January 19, for strength training.
Included in the squad are nine players who did not travel to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Among them are forwards Andre Clennon of Waterhouse, Shavon Brown of Glenmuir and Portmore United and Roy Forbes of Arnett Gardens who sustained an injury at the last camp. Midfielders Keniel Hyde of Meadhaven, John-Ross Doyley of Glenmuir and Portmore United, Romeo Parkes of St George's who is returning from an injury; defenders Damaine Thompson of Rusea's and Bamboo FC in Hanover, Sean Fogah of Garvey Maceo and Portmore United and goalkeeper Gariece McPherson complete the squad.
SQUAD - Goalkeepers Andre Blake (Clarendon College, Sporting Central Academy), Dennis Taylor (Reno FC), Gariece McPherson (Portmore United); defenders Lynval Wilson (Reno FC), Andre Campbell (Portmore United), Andre Darby (Portmore United), Keithy Simpson (Sporting Central Academy), Leaunghn Williams (Lennon, Sporting Central Academy), Christopher Banner (Sporting Central Academy) Damaine Thompson (Rusea's High, Bamboo FC), Sean Fogah (Garvey Maceo, Portmore United); midfielders Romario Campbell (Harbour View), John-Ross Doyley (Glenmuir, Portmore United), Theo Brown (Waterhouse FC), Romeo Parkes (St George's SC), Andre Steele (Bridgeport High, Harbour View), Keniel Hyde (Meadhaven FC), Kadian Wynter (Sporting Central Academy), Evan Taylor (Reno FC), Davion Thorpe (Reno FC); forwards Dever Orgill (Vancouver Whitecaps), Roy Forbes (Arnett Gardens FC), Andre Clennon (Waterhouse FC), Shamar Shelton (St George's College, HVFC), Kemal Malcolm (St George's College, Meadhaven FC), Shavon Brown (Glenmuir, Portmore United) and Alanzo Adlam (Sporting Central Academy).
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Head coach of the National Under-20 team, Donovan Duckie, was pleased with the teams that Jamaica have been grouped with following Thursday's drawing of the group at CONCACAF's headquarters in New York.
The young Reggae Boyz were drawn alongside the United States of America (USA), El Salvador and the winner of the play-off between Honduras and St Vincent for the upcoming 2009 CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship.
Members of Jamaica's Under-20 team celebrate after beating host St Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0 on Tuesday in that country to advance to the CONCACAF World Cup final round qualifiers. (Photo: Oris Robinson) "It a tough one, but I am a little bit more comfortable with this group," Duckie said yesterday. "We can be very competitive against these three teams."
"If the 11 games we played are anything to go by, we should get some favourable results here. But these are countries that have been there more often than us. It will be very difficult," he warned.
He continued: "The good thing is that we will be playing El Salvador, a team we played twice and came out victors against. Although you wouldn't know the true level of competitiveness in an unofficial game," he said.
"But it gave us some measurement as to where we are and the guys will be confident against these teams," Duckie added.
These four Group A teams will compete in a round-robin series at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago from March 6-15.
The top-two teams from the group will advance to the semi-final round which effectively will seal their place in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 which runs from September 25 to October 16, 2009.
Group B will consist of CONCACAF kingpins Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada and hosts Trinidad and Tobago.
Of particular interest is the fact that Group A matches will be played on natural grass, while Group B games will be contested on Star 1 Artificial Turf.
The full tournament schedule is expected to be released next week. Eleven spots have so far been filled for Egypt 2009, including one by host Egypt. From Europe, Germany, England, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Czech Republic have already booked their spots, while Australia, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Korea Republic have done so from Asia.
Jamaica qualified for the 2001 Under-20 World Cup in Argentina and continue the pursuit of their second berth at this level.
Meanwhile the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has named a 27-man squad to continue preparation for the final round set for Trinidad and Tobago from March 6-15, 2009.
They will return to camp on Monday, January 19, for strength training.
Included in the squad are nine players who did not travel to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Among them are forwards Andre Clennon of Waterhouse, Shavon Brown of Glenmuir and Portmore United and Roy Forbes of Arnett Gardens who sustained an injury at the last camp. Midfielders Keniel Hyde of Meadhaven, John-Ross Doyley of Glenmuir and Portmore United, Romeo Parkes of St George's who is returning from an injury; defenders Damaine Thompson of Rusea's and Bamboo FC in Hanover, Sean Fogah of Garvey Maceo and Portmore United and goalkeeper Gariece McPherson complete the squad.
SQUAD - Goalkeepers Andre Blake (Clarendon College, Sporting Central Academy), Dennis Taylor (Reno FC), Gariece McPherson (Portmore United); defenders Lynval Wilson (Reno FC), Andre Campbell (Portmore United), Andre Darby (Portmore United), Keithy Simpson (Sporting Central Academy), Leaunghn Williams (Lennon, Sporting Central Academy), Christopher Banner (Sporting Central Academy) Damaine Thompson (Rusea's High, Bamboo FC), Sean Fogah (Garvey Maceo, Portmore United); midfielders Romario Campbell (Harbour View), John-Ross Doyley (Glenmuir, Portmore United), Theo Brown (Waterhouse FC), Romeo Parkes (St George's SC), Andre Steele (Bridgeport High, Harbour View), Keniel Hyde (Meadhaven FC), Kadian Wynter (Sporting Central Academy), Evan Taylor (Reno FC), Davion Thorpe (Reno FC); forwards Dever Orgill (Vancouver Whitecaps), Roy Forbes (Arnett Gardens FC), Andre Clennon (Waterhouse FC), Shamar Shelton (St George's College, HVFC), Kemal Malcolm (St George's College, Meadhaven FC), Shavon Brown (Glenmuir, Portmore United) and Alanzo Adlam (Sporting Central Academy).
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