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Boyz start Cup quest with May 18 camp
Sunday, May 03, 2009
The Reggae Boyz have mapped out their course for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup set to take place in the United States from July 3-26.
It begins with camp on May 18 and involves three international friendlies.
For the first of the three friendlies against Haiti on Saturday, May 23, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as the second, the "composition of the squad will be largely local-based", according to coach John Barnes.
After getting into camp on Monday, May 18, the Boyz will sharpen their skills until they depart for Fort Lauderdale two days before the scheduled encounter.
Upon their return, the players will take a day's break before returning to camp on Monday, May 25, where they will remain until they depart two days before they meet El Salvador at the RFK Stadium in Washington.
With these two games not falling on FIFA dates, only the available international players will be invited. This means a number of local-based players, as was the case in the Digicel Caribbean Championships, will get a chance to feature. The absence of the overseas-based players is not a major concern for Barnes.
"I'm not unduly perturbed that we may not have the European-based players for the first two games. What I'm trying to create... is a template that my players will understand. Personnel may change but our system and style of play will not necessarily change," declared Barnes, who guided a team devoid of a number of European-based players to the regional title last December to earn their Gold Cup berth.
The Panama game, to be played at the National Stadium on June 7, should see the squad at full strength as overseas-based players free of injury will be invited as the game takes place on a FIFA date. For this game, the invited players will assemble for camp on June 1.
Due to the very long and gruelling season, especially for the UK-based players, the camp will thereafter break to afford much-needed rejuvenation time. They will resume training on Monday, June 22 leading into the Gold Cup.
Jamaica open their Gold Cup campaign in Group A against Canada on July 3 at the Home Depot Center. They next face Costa Rica at the Crew Stadium on July 7 at (7:00 pm) in Columbus, Ohio.
Their final group match is on July 10 at Florida International University Stadium in Miami against El Salvador at 9:00 pm.a
Sunday, May 03, 2009
The Reggae Boyz have mapped out their course for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup set to take place in the United States from July 3-26.
It begins with camp on May 18 and involves three international friendlies.
For the first of the three friendlies against Haiti on Saturday, May 23, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as the second, the "composition of the squad will be largely local-based", according to coach John Barnes.
After getting into camp on Monday, May 18, the Boyz will sharpen their skills until they depart for Fort Lauderdale two days before the scheduled encounter.
Upon their return, the players will take a day's break before returning to camp on Monday, May 25, where they will remain until they depart two days before they meet El Salvador at the RFK Stadium in Washington.
With these two games not falling on FIFA dates, only the available international players will be invited. This means a number of local-based players, as was the case in the Digicel Caribbean Championships, will get a chance to feature. The absence of the overseas-based players is not a major concern for Barnes.
"I'm not unduly perturbed that we may not have the European-based players for the first two games. What I'm trying to create... is a template that my players will understand. Personnel may change but our system and style of play will not necessarily change," declared Barnes, who guided a team devoid of a number of European-based players to the regional title last December to earn their Gold Cup berth.
The Panama game, to be played at the National Stadium on June 7, should see the squad at full strength as overseas-based players free of injury will be invited as the game takes place on a FIFA date. For this game, the invited players will assemble for camp on June 1.
Due to the very long and gruelling season, especially for the UK-based players, the camp will thereafter break to afford much-needed rejuvenation time. They will resume training on Monday, June 22 leading into the Gold Cup.
Jamaica open their Gold Cup campaign in Group A against Canada on July 3 at the Home Depot Center. They next face Costa Rica at the Crew Stadium on July 7 at (7:00 pm) in Columbus, Ohio.
Their final group match is on July 10 at Florida International University Stadium in Miami against El Salvador at 9:00 pm.a