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Number 75 inna the world? Why not someone in the top 20? No wonder the forum not even think of posting it.
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
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The Reggae Boyz's eye-catching display at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and consequent soar up the FIFA Rankings to an attractive 38th, seem to have caught the attention of the rest of the footballing world.
Following "a spike in inquiries" for possible games against the Caribbean's number one, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has concluded negotiations with China for a friendly game in that country on the next FIFA date of August 10.
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"Based on our recent performance in the Gold Cup and our flight up the FIFA rankings, the Reggae Boyz brand has indeed become more marketable and the queries of the team have been flooding in," said JFF president Captain Horace Burrell yesterday, mere hours after sealing the deal with his east Asian counterparts.
The game, which will be the first for the Boyz since their Gold Cup exploits last month, will be played in the eastern Chinese city of Heifi, the capital and largest city of Anhui Province.
As part of the contract between the JFF and the Chinese Football Association, Burrell disclosed that both teams must field "their strongest teams".
"We will have our best possible squad for this match-up as is dictated by terms of the agreement, and we have also demanded their strongest, so I expect it to be a highly entertaining game between one of Asia's strongest teams and a Jamaican outfit that has shown superb form and quality in recent times," notes the head of local football.
It is expected that the bulk, if not all, of the Gold Cup squad will be selected for the encounter which forms part of the pre-World Cup qualifying preparation.
Barring surprises, Jamaica's outfit should include USA-based Shavar Thomas (captain), Dane Richards, Ryan Johnson, Jermaine Taylor, Donovan Ricketts; Europe-based Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin, Jason Morrison, Omar Daley and local-based Keammar Daley, to name a few.
China's charge will be led by captain Du Wei, top striker Hao Haidong, Shamdong Luneng and Deng Zhuoxiang.
Burrell, who is acting president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), said the aim of the federation is to take full advantage of all available FIFA calendar dates leading into the Caribbean leg of World Cup qualification set to kick off late November.
"We want to play as many games as possible both home and abroad, but we face enormous challenges hosting matches at 'The Office'. It is very crucial for us to have games at the team's headquarters, so the players' confidence playing in front of their home support will remain strong.
"But the reality is that staging games here from an economical standpoint is not easy and it's pointless to have the games and keep losing great sums of money that we can't afford. Therefore, it has to be a collaborative effort among all stakeholders, mainly corporate Jamaica and the fans for us to successfully stage friendly matches," explained Burrell.
The China-Jamaica football engagement is of great political significance to both nations as they share bonds that go way back. The progressive communist China of today -- one of the largest economies in the world -- and tiny Jamaica have built and maintained unshakeable diplomatic and economic co-operation that has brought tremendous benefits to the Caribbean island.
With plans by both governments to open direct air travel links between the countries with the aim of boosting Jamaica's tourism arrival figures in the main, Burrell sees tremendous benefits accruing from a football game between the distant states.
"The game would first reaffirm the friendship between the countries, then it would also be an opportunity to market brand Jamaica to a massive audience of potential business investors and holiday seekers. This is not just a football match, it entails significantly more," said a Burrell, who serves on the executive of an embattled CONCACAF.
According to eloratings.com, the August meeting will be the third between the countries following a two-match friendly series back in Kingston in 1977. The first match of that year played on October 24 saw the Chinese winning 1-0, but Jamaica rallied a week later for a 3-0 triumph.
China, ranked 75th by FIFA today, have made one appearance at the Senior Men's World Cup in 2002 — four years after the Boyz made their only call on the game's biggest stage.
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Print this page Email A Friend!
The Reggae Boyz's eye-catching display at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and consequent soar up the FIFA Rankings to an attractive 38th, seem to have caught the attention of the rest of the footballing world.
Following "a spike in inquiries" for possible games against the Caribbean's number one, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has concluded negotiations with China for a friendly game in that country on the next FIFA date of August 10.
1/1
"Based on our recent performance in the Gold Cup and our flight up the FIFA rankings, the Reggae Boyz brand has indeed become more marketable and the queries of the team have been flooding in," said JFF president Captain Horace Burrell yesterday, mere hours after sealing the deal with his east Asian counterparts.
The game, which will be the first for the Boyz since their Gold Cup exploits last month, will be played in the eastern Chinese city of Heifi, the capital and largest city of Anhui Province.
As part of the contract between the JFF and the Chinese Football Association, Burrell disclosed that both teams must field "their strongest teams".
"We will have our best possible squad for this match-up as is dictated by terms of the agreement, and we have also demanded their strongest, so I expect it to be a highly entertaining game between one of Asia's strongest teams and a Jamaican outfit that has shown superb form and quality in recent times," notes the head of local football.
It is expected that the bulk, if not all, of the Gold Cup squad will be selected for the encounter which forms part of the pre-World Cup qualifying preparation.
Barring surprises, Jamaica's outfit should include USA-based Shavar Thomas (captain), Dane Richards, Ryan Johnson, Jermaine Taylor, Donovan Ricketts; Europe-based Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin, Jason Morrison, Omar Daley and local-based Keammar Daley, to name a few.
China's charge will be led by captain Du Wei, top striker Hao Haidong, Shamdong Luneng and Deng Zhuoxiang.
Burrell, who is acting president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), said the aim of the federation is to take full advantage of all available FIFA calendar dates leading into the Caribbean leg of World Cup qualification set to kick off late November.
"We want to play as many games as possible both home and abroad, but we face enormous challenges hosting matches at 'The Office'. It is very crucial for us to have games at the team's headquarters, so the players' confidence playing in front of their home support will remain strong.
"But the reality is that staging games here from an economical standpoint is not easy and it's pointless to have the games and keep losing great sums of money that we can't afford. Therefore, it has to be a collaborative effort among all stakeholders, mainly corporate Jamaica and the fans for us to successfully stage friendly matches," explained Burrell.
The China-Jamaica football engagement is of great political significance to both nations as they share bonds that go way back. The progressive communist China of today -- one of the largest economies in the world -- and tiny Jamaica have built and maintained unshakeable diplomatic and economic co-operation that has brought tremendous benefits to the Caribbean island.
With plans by both governments to open direct air travel links between the countries with the aim of boosting Jamaica's tourism arrival figures in the main, Burrell sees tremendous benefits accruing from a football game between the distant states.
"The game would first reaffirm the friendship between the countries, then it would also be an opportunity to market brand Jamaica to a massive audience of potential business investors and holiday seekers. This is not just a football match, it entails significantly more," said a Burrell, who serves on the executive of an embattled CONCACAF.
According to eloratings.com, the August meeting will be the third between the countries following a two-match friendly series back in Kingston in 1977. The first match of that year played on October 24 saw the Chinese winning 1-0, but Jamaica rallied a week later for a 3-0 triumph.
China, ranked 75th by FIFA today, have made one appearance at the Senior Men's World Cup in 2002 — four years after the Boyz made their only call on the game's biggest stage.
After China they should play Leyton Orient (since that are in the harea).
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