Tweet
Seven New Faces In Ja U-20 Squad!!
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida - Seven new faces joined the National Under-20 training squad hoping to make an impression on head coach Donovan Duckie as Jamaica look to strengthen for the crucial qualifiers ahead.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) invited the overseas-based players to train with the squad and participate in the two friendly games.
Gregory Pitt (Atlanta), Paul Lewis (Florida), Amani Walker (Univerity of California), Tramayne East (Florida) took part in their first training session with the Boyz at the Lauderhill Sports Centre on Tuesday.
Striker Reniel "Ricky" Sappleton of English League One outfit, Leicester City; Jamel Johnson and Moses Anderson (Washington) joined the camp late and should have seen their first action on Wednesday during the game against the Caribbean America's Soccer Association (CASA) Under-23 team.
Duckie saw four of the players during a light workout on Tuesday and was impressed with what he saw.
"I think we were fairly impressed. I thought they fitted in well in such a short space of time and it wasn't a bad performance by the guys," he noted.
Of the seven, four of the players are strikers and two midfielders.
"The positions we are looking at are offensive. The team has been together for over 11 months and the guys at the back of our team have distinguished themselves. They have stood out, so we will continue to look at offensive players to have a good balance for that collective effort that we are looking for," said Duckie.
Walker, a tall striker standing at 6 ft 2in, was born in the USA but chose to represent Jamaica, the land of his father.
"I always wanted to play for Jamaica, especially after the 1998 World Cup. I always wanted the opportunity," he told the Observer yesterday.
Walker, in his second year at the University of California at Irvine, notched six goals from 11 starts last season after missing the first part of the season. The towering forward said his strength is "holding up the ball and I am good in the air and I can score".
Ricky Sappleton, also standing at over six feet, was born in Jamaica and migrated to England when he was seven years old. He was influenced by his brother, Patrick Sappleton, who played for Jamaica and is "eager to wear the national colours".
"My brother played for Jamaica and I wanted to play also. I was just waiting for the opportunity," said the striker who scored 17 goals for the Reserves last season.
"I consider myself a decent striker. I can be tricky but keep it simple," noted Sappleton, who said he has always been compared to Emile Heskey, but thinks he is more like Didier Drodga of Chelsea.
Prior to joining Leicester City, Sappleton had two weeks trials with Middleborough and Liverpool before making his senior debut in December.
In 2007, BBC Sports carried a story that Leicester City
had won the race to sign 17-year-old Sappleton ahead of
the $500,000 bid from Manchester United.
"We have heard good things about him and have seen his file. I had the opportunity to speak with him... I like his built; he is over six feet and a target player and he could do a lot of good for us," said Duckie.
Meanwhile, Moses Anderson is making a comeback to the national programme after representing Jamaica at the Under-17 level alongside most of the current crop. He is the son of KLASS FM producer, Devon Anderson.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) invited the overseas-based players to train with the squad and participate in the two friendly games.
Gregory Pitt (Atlanta), Paul Lewis (Florida), Amani Walker (Univerity of California), Tramayne East (Florida) took part in their first training session with the Boyz at the Lauderhill Sports Centre on Tuesday.
Striker Reniel "Ricky" Sappleton of English League One outfit, Leicester City; Jamel Johnson and Moses Anderson (Washington) joined the camp late and should have seen their first action on Wednesday during the game against the Caribbean America's Soccer Association (CASA) Under-23 team.
Duckie saw four of the players during a light workout on Tuesday and was impressed with what he saw.
"I think we were fairly impressed. I thought they fitted in well in such a short space of time and it wasn't a bad performance by the guys," he noted.
Of the seven, four of the players are strikers and two midfielders.
"The positions we are looking at are offensive. The team has been together for over 11 months and the guys at the back of our team have distinguished themselves. They have stood out, so we will continue to look at offensive players to have a good balance for that collective effort that we are looking for," said Duckie.
Walker, a tall striker standing at 6 ft 2in, was born in the USA but chose to represent Jamaica, the land of his father.
"I always wanted to play for Jamaica, especially after the 1998 World Cup. I always wanted the opportunity," he told the Observer yesterday.
Walker, in his second year at the University of California at Irvine, notched six goals from 11 starts last season after missing the first part of the season. The towering forward said his strength is "holding up the ball and I am good in the air and I can score".
Ricky Sappleton, also standing at over six feet, was born in Jamaica and migrated to England when he was seven years old. He was influenced by his brother, Patrick Sappleton, who played for Jamaica and is "eager to wear the national colours".
"My brother played for Jamaica and I wanted to play also. I was just waiting for the opportunity," said the striker who scored 17 goals for the Reserves last season.
"I consider myself a decent striker. I can be tricky but keep it simple," noted Sappleton, who said he has always been compared to Emile Heskey, but thinks he is more like Didier Drodga of Chelsea.
Prior to joining Leicester City, Sappleton had two weeks trials with Middleborough and Liverpool before making his senior debut in December.
In 2007, BBC Sports carried a story that Leicester City
had won the race to sign 17-year-old Sappleton ahead of
the $500,000 bid from Manchester United.
"We have heard good things about him and have seen his file. I had the opportunity to speak with him... I like his built; he is over six feet and a target player and he could do a lot of good for us," said Duckie.
Meanwhile, Moses Anderson is making a comeback to the national programme after representing Jamaica at the Under-17 level alongside most of the current crop. He is the son of KLASS FM producer, Devon Anderson.
Comment