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Losing A. Blake could be a very significant loss for this team. He is by far the best keeper. Not sure if he can recover from a dislocated knee and be fit in time for the next round of qualifying games.
Taken from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...Y_RETURNS_.asp
Injuries hit U-20 squad as Ottey returns
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Injuries to three key players have left National U-20 coach, Donovan Duckie, a worried man ahead of their six-game international friendly series.
OTTEY... has returned to training camp after being left out of the St Vincent tour because of fatigue Outstanding goalkeeper, Andre Blake, striker Alanzo Adlam, and left-back, Christopher Banner, are all nursing niggling injuries with Jamaica set to play six games this month.
"We have some major injuries right now. Injuries are hitting me. Blake, Adlam and Banner," Duckie confirmed to the Sunday Observer yesterday.
Blake has been getting rare reviews for his outstanding goalkeeping in the just-concluded Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifying round in St Vincent.
So impressive was Blake, especially in the Haiti game when the young Reggae Boyz came under siege, that he was constantly praised by USA's U-20 coach, Thomas Rongen, for his handling of the crosses.
Blake was injured while keeping for Premier League outfit, Sporting Central Academy, last week and was substituted in the sixth minute with a knee injury.
While blocking a ball with his feet during the match against Tivoli Gardens, Blake dislocated his left knee as Tivoli went on to win the game, 4-1.
Banner has complained about a lump in the back of his knee, while Adlam is still feeling the effect of a shoulder dislocated while playing against St Vincent.
"We definitely have to rest them and continue to monitor their progress to see at which point they can fit in. But we're expecting other players to step up; we're looking on the positive side. We have a squad and we have been rotating players. We have a large pool of players of 30," said Duckie.
He added: "These... are core players that have been there... from the beginning in the last three tournaments.
"We'll continue to monitor their progress as close as possible to the competition and see their fitness, if not, we'll have to make some decisions when we have to submit the final 20," he added.
Meanwhile, promising 16-year-old striker Allan Ottey of St James High, has returned to training camp after being left out of the St Vincent tour because of fatigue.
"Ottey is a part of the squad. He has been cleared by the doctor so he is now a part of the 30," Duckie confirmed.
Jamaica are preparing for the CONCACAF Men's U-20 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago in March, with the preparatory friendlies set to kick off in Jamaica on February 12 and continue on February 14 and 17. The overseas legs will take place on February 19, 21 and 27.
The Young Boyz have been drawn in Group A and will meet USA, El Salvador and the winners of a tie between Honduras and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Central American outfit Costa Rica, who are drawn in Group B alongside Mexico, Canada and the hosts.
Regional powerhouse Mexico will arrive here on February 16 for their friendly game the following day at a venue yet to be determined.
Both teams depart the island on February 18 for Mexico City, where they will play a return leg on February 19. Two days later, the Jamaicans will engage a Mexican Under-20 All Stars Invitational.
They close the series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 27 when they visit the training camp of the Canadians.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals on March 13, with the final and third-place matches two days later. The four semi-finalists will also qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009, which runs from September 25 to October 16.
Taken from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...Y_RETURNS_.asp
Injuries hit U-20 squad as Ottey returns
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Injuries to three key players have left National U-20 coach, Donovan Duckie, a worried man ahead of their six-game international friendly series.
OTTEY... has returned to training camp after being left out of the St Vincent tour because of fatigue Outstanding goalkeeper, Andre Blake, striker Alanzo Adlam, and left-back, Christopher Banner, are all nursing niggling injuries with Jamaica set to play six games this month."We have some major injuries right now. Injuries are hitting me. Blake, Adlam and Banner," Duckie confirmed to the Sunday Observer yesterday.
Blake has been getting rare reviews for his outstanding goalkeeping in the just-concluded Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifying round in St Vincent.
So impressive was Blake, especially in the Haiti game when the young Reggae Boyz came under siege, that he was constantly praised by USA's U-20 coach, Thomas Rongen, for his handling of the crosses.
Blake was injured while keeping for Premier League outfit, Sporting Central Academy, last week and was substituted in the sixth minute with a knee injury.
While blocking a ball with his feet during the match against Tivoli Gardens, Blake dislocated his left knee as Tivoli went on to win the game, 4-1.
Banner has complained about a lump in the back of his knee, while Adlam is still feeling the effect of a shoulder dislocated while playing against St Vincent.
"We definitely have to rest them and continue to monitor their progress to see at which point they can fit in. But we're expecting other players to step up; we're looking on the positive side. We have a squad and we have been rotating players. We have a large pool of players of 30," said Duckie.
He added: "These... are core players that have been there... from the beginning in the last three tournaments.
"We'll continue to monitor their progress as close as possible to the competition and see their fitness, if not, we'll have to make some decisions when we have to submit the final 20," he added.
Meanwhile, promising 16-year-old striker Allan Ottey of St James High, has returned to training camp after being left out of the St Vincent tour because of fatigue.
"Ottey is a part of the squad. He has been cleared by the doctor so he is now a part of the 30," Duckie confirmed.
Jamaica are preparing for the CONCACAF Men's U-20 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago in March, with the preparatory friendlies set to kick off in Jamaica on February 12 and continue on February 14 and 17. The overseas legs will take place on February 19, 21 and 27.
The Young Boyz have been drawn in Group A and will meet USA, El Salvador and the winners of a tie between Honduras and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Central American outfit Costa Rica, who are drawn in Group B alongside Mexico, Canada and the hosts.
Regional powerhouse Mexico will arrive here on February 16 for their friendly game the following day at a venue yet to be determined.
Both teams depart the island on February 18 for Mexico City, where they will play a return leg on February 19. Two days later, the Jamaicans will engage a Mexican Under-20 All Stars Invitational.
They close the series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 27 when they visit the training camp of the Canadians.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals on March 13, with the final and third-place matches two days later. The four semi-finalists will also qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009, which runs from September 25 to October 16.