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Taken from www.jamaicaobserver.com
Capt Burrell pledges full backing of Young Boyz
SEAN A WILLIAMS, Assistant Sport Editor
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss Captain Horace Burrell has vowed to do everything in his power to give the Under-20 men's team the required ammunition to qualify for the FIFA Youth World Cup to be staged in the north African nation of Egypt from September 25 to October 16.
The JFF president revealed that already negotiations have commenced with a number of countries for practice matches for the team ahead of their final CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Trinidad and Tobago from March 6 to 15.
Captain Burrell, speaking from New York on Wednesday where he was attending CONCACAF Executive Committee meetings, noted there is a vigorous campaign on the part of the federation to woo more corporate support for the Under-20s, who comfortably advanced from their CFU group play-offs in St Vincent and the Grenadines last week.
"We are talking to a number of our counterparts in Central and North America for friendly games for this very talented group...apart from getting practice games for them, we have already begun to aggressively talk to corporate Jamaica for help even in these harsh economic times," said the CFU senior vice-president and CONCACAF Executive Committee member.
Captain Burrell yesterday confirmed that he and his counterparts in Canada are advancing with talks for a date with the Young Boyz and their North American peers.
With the senior Reggae Boyz's bitter exit from the
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers at the semi-final stage, the JFF has now lent more support to the only team it still has in a World Cup qualifying tournament.
"We are prepared to put everything into this team to get them to the World Cup, especially now that the senior Boyz have missed out on a place in the finals of the CONCACAF qualifiers," said Burrell, who is on his second stint as Jamaica's football head.
Incidentally, the only time a Jamaican team qualified for the Under-20 World Cup was in 2001 for the Argentina championship, and it happened under Burrell's first watch as JFF president.
In fact, the two other Jamaican teams - the senior Boyz for France 1998 and the Under-17s for New Zealand 1999 - also qualified for world tournaments during Burrell's first stint.
Jamaica's current campaigners advanced to the Under-20 finals play-off following a 1-1 draw in their opening contest against Haiti, then progressing to whip the Dominican Republic 4-1 and host St Vincent 2-0.
For the Trinidad and Tobago finals, Jamaica have been placed in Group A with El Salvador, USA and the winner of the St Vincent/Honduras play-off.
Group B will be contested by CONCACAF kingpins Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada and hosts Trinidad and Tobago.
The top-two teams from each group advance to the semi-final round of the play-offs and gain automatic qualification to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the JFF has named a 27-man squad which was scheduled to start camp yesterday, with immediate emphasis on strength training.
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), Levaunghn 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).
Capt Burrell pledges full backing of Young Boyz
SEAN A WILLIAMS, Assistant Sport Editor
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss Captain Horace Burrell has vowed to do everything in his power to give the Under-20 men's team the required ammunition to qualify for the FIFA Youth World Cup to be staged in the north African nation of Egypt from September 25 to October 16.
The JFF president revealed that already negotiations have commenced with a number of countries for practice matches for the team ahead of their final CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Trinidad and Tobago from March 6 to 15.
Captain Burrell, speaking from New York on Wednesday where he was attending CONCACAF Executive Committee meetings, noted there is a vigorous campaign on the part of the federation to woo more corporate support for the Under-20s, who comfortably advanced from their CFU group play-offs in St Vincent and the Grenadines last week.
"We are talking to a number of our counterparts in Central and North America for friendly games for this very talented group...apart from getting practice games for them, we have already begun to aggressively talk to corporate Jamaica for help even in these harsh economic times," said the CFU senior vice-president and CONCACAF Executive Committee member.
Captain Burrell yesterday confirmed that he and his counterparts in Canada are advancing with talks for a date with the Young Boyz and their North American peers.
With the senior Reggae Boyz's bitter exit from the
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers at the semi-final stage, the JFF has now lent more support to the only team it still has in a World Cup qualifying tournament.
"We are prepared to put everything into this team to get them to the World Cup, especially now that the senior Boyz have missed out on a place in the finals of the CONCACAF qualifiers," said Burrell, who is on his second stint as Jamaica's football head.
Incidentally, the only time a Jamaican team qualified for the Under-20 World Cup was in 2001 for the Argentina championship, and it happened under Burrell's first watch as JFF president.
In fact, the two other Jamaican teams - the senior Boyz for France 1998 and the Under-17s for New Zealand 1999 - also qualified for world tournaments during Burrell's first stint.
Jamaica's current campaigners advanced to the Under-20 finals play-off following a 1-1 draw in their opening contest against Haiti, then progressing to whip the Dominican Republic 4-1 and host St Vincent 2-0.
For the Trinidad and Tobago finals, Jamaica have been placed in Group A with El Salvador, USA and the winner of the St Vincent/Honduras play-off.
Group B will be contested by CONCACAF kingpins Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada and hosts Trinidad and Tobago.
The top-two teams from each group advance to the semi-final round of the play-offs and gain automatic qualification to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the JFF has named a 27-man squad which was scheduled to start camp yesterday, with immediate emphasis on strength training.
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), Levaunghn 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).