Reggaeboyz team named for two friendlies

[Mac]

Taken from www.jamaicaobserver.com

Palmer, Taylor, Stephenson get Boyz recall
Saturday, August 08, 2009


Harbour View's utility player Lovel Palmer, who scored a scorching free kick in a 1-1 draw with a Western All-Stars on Thursday, has been named in a Reggae Boyz squad of 18 to face Ecuador in a friendly international at the Giants Stadium next Wednesday.


The 25-year-old former St Elizabeth Technical standout last represented the country two years ago against Iran. Jermaine Taylor, now of St George's in Portland, is back in the squad, having last represented the country internationally in November 2008.


Also making a return to the squad, which is a blend of players based in Scandinavia, the United States of America and Jamaica, are Khari Stephenson of Aalesunds SK in Norway, and Jamaica-based standouts Devon Hodges and Keammar Daley.


The team leaves the island on Sunday morning ahead of their game against the South Americans at 9:00 pm. Colombia and Venezuela will meet in the opening game at 7:00 pm.


Squad: Dwayne Miller, Shawn Sawyers; Defenders Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Taylor, Demar Phillips, Rafe Wolfe, Eric Vernon, Dicoy Williams; Midfielders Jason Morrison, Khari Stephenson, Rodolph Austin, Lovel Palmer, Dane Richards; Forwards Luton Shelton, Omar Cummings, Navion Boyd, Keammar Daley and Devon Hodges.

[Mac]

Boyz held 1-1 by Western All-stars

Taken from www.jamaicaobserver.com

Boyz held 1-1 by Western All-stars
BY PAUL A REID, Observer writer
Saturday, August 08, 2009


FROME, Westmoreland - A local-based Reggae Boyz team was held to a 1-1 draw by a Western All-stars team in an exhibition game at the Frome Sports Complex on Thursday, as the national team prepares to leave the island today for two friendly internationals next week.


In front of a small gathering of spectators and under poor flood lights that left parts of the field in darkness, the Reggae Boyz, who are seeking places on the travelling party, were given a good workout by the Western All-stars.


Lovel Palmer gave the national team the lead after 17 minutes when his well-taken free-kick from some 35 yards, beat goalkeeper Gavin Barrett into the net.


Adrian Robinson, who came on a second-half substitute, pulled the local team level after 55 minutes when he rose well to head powerfully past the out of position Ralston Robinson, who had replaced Dwayne Miller in the Reggae Boyz goal at half-time.


The Reggae Boyz, who are due to leave the island today, will take on Ecuador on Wednesday at Giants Stadium in New Jersey and then St Kitts next Sunday.


Head coach Theodore Whitmore told the Observer that while he was pleased with what he saw of the young Reggae Boyz in the game, he added: "There was not enough time to do a proper assessment that is necessary and there is still a lot of work to do as we move forward."
He described what took place at Frome as "glimpses of what is to come".
Despite being made to work hard, the national team had most of the chances and hit the 'woodwork' twice, once in either half.


A minute after Barrett had made a good save in the 25th minute, midfielder Evon Taylor hit the crossbar from close range.


Midway the second half Michael Campbell also hit the crossbar after a lightning fast counter-attack that started in their own half, following a quick combination with Sheldon Palmer.

[Hortical]

So the national team is held 1-1 by a pickup team. Can you say a 6-0 drubbing by Ecuador awaits us?

[Mosiah]

The national team always struggles against local opposition. The result means nothing.

[Assasin]

many players are away with Portmore including Dean, Daley, and Hodges. Then you have the players coming from Norway and eastern Europe to make up the squad.
Watch this team surprise nuff man

Mo did yu see Obrien against Real last night?

[Hortical]

Really, the last time mi see the boyz at Giant Stadium it was blood bath vs Columbia.

[Mosiah]

Huh?! Yuh mean di match whey Maestro dun di place?!?

[Mosiah]

No, I didn't see the match. How did O'brien do?

[Assasin]

He came on with about 20 minutes to go and had the Madrid defense in problem on more than one occasion. The goal that Toronto score was a rebound from a well taken shot from Obrien. He looked the sort and was only one of two offense player for Toronto throughout the game.

he is still coming back from injury and I will say if he continue the JFF better call him. If he plays up to potential he will not be in the MLS for long.

[Mac]

Depleted team leaves for Ecuador friendly

What is it about the Bronx league. Players rather play there than for the national team and wonder why their career go nowhere in professional football.

Taken from www.jamaicaobserver.com

Peeved 'Tappa'
Leads depleted squad to Ecuador friendly
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, August 09, 2009


A peeved national head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore was scheduled to leave the island this morning with the Reggae Boyz for New Jersey to face Ecuador, ruing the absence of a few local-based players who are taking part in the Bronx League.


Jamaica will enter the game on Wednesday in the Giants Stadium, already without the core of their English-based players, and Whitmore was not amused.


"Again you have called a squad with a number of players and you get to understand that they are overseas playing in the Bronx League. That's something again I can't understand. Then you hear questions why you didn't call this and that," he told the Sunday Observer yesterday.


"We have Christopher Jackson from Tivoli who is in New York; Daniel Shaw, he came back from New York with injury. Sometimes I just don't understand. Desmond Breakenridge... it's a choice, they must know what they want to do," said Whitmore.


The team, which will be staying at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, is without the English-based players because that league kicked off yesterday in earnest.


Captain Ricardo Gardner (Bolton), along with senior players Ian Goodison (Tranmere), Damion Stewart (Queen's Park Rangers), Claude Davis (Derby), Jamal Campbell Ryce (Barnsley), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City), Marlon King (Wigan) and Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield United) will all be missing in action.
But Whitmore thinks this as an ideal opportunity for other players to step up to the plate and show their worth.


Said Whitmore: "Their (English) league started weekend and I want to look at some of the local younger players now. It's an opportunity for them. It's a chance for them to stamp their class and stake their claim."
Meanwhile, promising defender Jermaine Taylor makes a return to the team after being left out last season because of inactivity during the transfer struggle between Harbour View and present club St George's FC.
"Taylor have played two practice games and to be honest, he surprised me," said Whitmore of his fitness.


But with nothing really to motivate the players, having dropped out of the World Cup Qualifiers and with the CONCACAF Gold Cup over, the 1998 World Cup hero will have to try to blend the team with experience and youth for the future.


"The Gold Cup has finished and we're not in the World Cup, so we just have to split the team, half local and half overseas, each time we have a FIFA date," Whitmore pointed out.


"Like the St Kitts (August 16) game coming up, we're going to use the local players," he added.
The squad is a blend of players based in Scandinavia, the United States and Jamaica.


Harbour View's midfielder Lovel Plamer, who scored a free-kick in Jamaica's practice game against a Western All-Star aggregation last week, also makes a return to international football. Palmer last represented Jamaica two years ago against Iran.


Former Mona High Manning Cupper Dicoy Williams of Harbour View is one of three centre halves, along with Taylor and Shavar Thomas of Chivas USA.
Holding midfielder Khari Stephenson (Alesunds SK), Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros ), Rodolph Austin SK Brann) and the speedy Dane Richards (New York Red Bull) comprise the midfield.


Omar Cumming (Colorado Rapids), who scored Jamaica's only goal in the Gold Cup against El Salvador, leads a forward line which includes Luton Shelton (Aalborg), Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Keammar Daley (Tivoli Gardens) and Rivoli United's Devon Hodges.

[Mosiah]

What is it about the Bronx league. Players rather play there than for the national team and wonder why their career go nowhere in professional football.

The days of playing football for the national team just because are long gone. Are the clubs paying the players in the off-season? Is the JFF paying them to fly back to Jamaica and while they are training with the national squad? What if they don't make the cut, who flies them back to NY, or do they just stay in Jamaica, broke, waiting for the DPL to start? These are real questions that must be considered before we go blasting the players as idiots.

Captain Ricardo Gardner (Bolton), along with senior players Ian Goodison (Tranmere), Damion Stewart (Queen's Park Rangers), Claude Davis (Derby), Jamal Campbell Ryce (Barnsley), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City), Marlon King (Wigan) and Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield United) will all be missing in action.
But Whitmore thinks this as an ideal opportunity for other players to step up to the plate and show their worth.

If the absence of the foreign contingent is an opportunity for other players to step up to the plate, why can't we consider the absence of the Bronx Leaguers such an opportunity as well?

[Mosiah]

Nice! I really hope he goes from strength to strength. He's not getting much younger.

[Me]

Half of those Bronx league guys are pennywise and pound foolish.

[Assasin]

The Bronx league deh yah fi stay. there is no gurantee that there would be any national game and why not stay active and earn a little money on the off season. The JFF need to work and cordinate with the people in the Bronx althought the Bronx not so organised.

[Mosiah]

True, and never stood any chance of making any national team, but the facts still remain. For those who are not pennywise and pound foolish, how are they gong to pay their bills?

It happens all the time - the JFF calls a team to train when they know fully well that the majority of the players will have to make way for the UB40s and others when the final list is named.

Maybe the players are smarter than we think!