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Senior Boyz make long trek to China
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor williamss@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, August 05, 2011
TEN local-based Reggae Boyz will depart the island today for what is expected to be a draining two-day trek to China for an international friendly match against the hosts next Wednesday.
They are Portmore United's Adrian Reid, Eric Vernan, Ricardo Cousins; Harbour View's Richard Edwards and Montrose Phinn; Waterhouse FC's Keneil Moodie, Richard McCallum and Kenardo Forbes; the unattached and former Bradford City man Omar Daley and Boys' Town's fleet-footed wingback Xavian Virgo.
Joining the local-based bunch in Hefei, China, to complete the 18-man squad are Scandinavia-based Dwayne Miller (Syrianska FC, Sweden), Jason Morrison (Aalesund's FC, Norway), Damian Williams (Nybergsund I L, Norway), Luton Shelton (Valerenga FC, Norway), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, Norway) and US pros Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Ryan Johnson (San Jose Earthquakes) and Shavar Thomas (Sporting Kansas).
Two other local-based players -- Tivoli Gardens' Keammar Daley and Navion Boyd, who have been regular picks of head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore -- were not available for selection as they are overseas on trials.
Daley, who has impressed at Preston North End, is said to be near completing a deal with the former club of sidelined Reggae Boy defender Claude Davis.
China's charge will be led by captain Du Wei, top striker Hao Haidong, Shamdong Luneng and Deng Zhuoxiang.
The Jamaicans travelling out of Kingston will fly to Shanghai via Miami and Los Angeles where they are expected to overnight before making the 13-and-a-half-hour trip to China.
All the players are due to be assembled in time for their first training session on Monday at the match venue.
Jamaica, ranked 44th in the world, will engage the No 73-rated China at the Hefei Sports Center at 7:35 pm (6:35 am (Jamaica time).
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell said since Jamaica's attractive play which took them to the quarter-final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June and their consequent flight up the FIFA ladder, many countries have been enquiring about the team.
With the October 10 official FIFA date filled, the JFF is aggressively pursuing top opponents for the remaining windows for 2011 -- September 2-6, October 7-11 and the November 11-15.
"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," said Burrell.
In their last match last Thursday, China stormed into the third round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers with a 6-1 pounding of Laos in a return-leg game for 13-3 aggregate victory.
The China-Jamaica showdown is of great political significance to both nations as they share bonds that go way back. With plans by both governments to open direct air travel links between the countries with the aim of boosting Jamaica's tourism, Burrell sees tremendous benefits accruing from the game.
"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 Burrell.
According to eloratings.com, this will be the third meeting between the teams following a two-match friendly series in Kingston in 1977. The first match on October 24 saw the Chinese winning 1-0, with Jamaica winning 3-0 a week later.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1UBpHjUkP
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor williamss@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, August 05, 2011
TEN local-based Reggae Boyz will depart the island today for what is expected to be a draining two-day trek to China for an international friendly match against the hosts next Wednesday.
They are Portmore United's Adrian Reid, Eric Vernan, Ricardo Cousins; Harbour View's Richard Edwards and Montrose Phinn; Waterhouse FC's Keneil Moodie, Richard McCallum and Kenardo Forbes; the unattached and former Bradford City man Omar Daley and Boys' Town's fleet-footed wingback Xavian Virgo.
Joining the local-based bunch in Hefei, China, to complete the 18-man squad are Scandinavia-based Dwayne Miller (Syrianska FC, Sweden), Jason Morrison (Aalesund's FC, Norway), Damian Williams (Nybergsund I L, Norway), Luton Shelton (Valerenga FC, Norway), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, Norway) and US pros Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Ryan Johnson (San Jose Earthquakes) and Shavar Thomas (Sporting Kansas).
Two other local-based players -- Tivoli Gardens' Keammar Daley and Navion Boyd, who have been regular picks of head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore -- were not available for selection as they are overseas on trials.
Daley, who has impressed at Preston North End, is said to be near completing a deal with the former club of sidelined Reggae Boy defender Claude Davis.
China's charge will be led by captain Du Wei, top striker Hao Haidong, Shamdong Luneng and Deng Zhuoxiang.
The Jamaicans travelling out of Kingston will fly to Shanghai via Miami and Los Angeles where they are expected to overnight before making the 13-and-a-half-hour trip to China.
All the players are due to be assembled in time for their first training session on Monday at the match venue.
Jamaica, ranked 44th in the world, will engage the No 73-rated China at the Hefei Sports Center at 7:35 pm (6:35 am (Jamaica time).
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell said since Jamaica's attractive play which took them to the quarter-final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June and their consequent flight up the FIFA ladder, many countries have been enquiring about the team.
With the October 10 official FIFA date filled, the JFF is aggressively pursuing top opponents for the remaining windows for 2011 -- September 2-6, October 7-11 and the November 11-15.
"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," said Burrell.
In their last match last Thursday, China stormed into the third round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers with a 6-1 pounding of Laos in a return-leg game for 13-3 aggregate victory.
The China-Jamaica showdown is of great political significance to both nations as they share bonds that go way back. With plans by both governments to open direct air travel links between the countries with the aim of boosting Jamaica's tourism, Burrell sees tremendous benefits accruing from the game.
"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 Burrell.
According to eloratings.com, this will be the third meeting between the teams following a two-match friendly series in Kingston in 1977. The first match on October 24 saw the Chinese winning 1-0, with Jamaica winning 3-0 a week later.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1UBpHjUkP
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