The U-20 Quest

[Karl]

http://www.reggaeboyzsc.com/articles...amp;category=1

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Ja announce U-20 squad for qualifiers in Mexico</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>ANDREW HANCEL, Observer staff reporter
Saturday, February 17, 2007
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=356 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Dr Wendell Abel (right) speaks to members of the national Under-20 team at the end of yesterday's motivational luncheon at the Jamaica Football Federation. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>National Under-20 head coach Dr Dean Weatherly announced a 20-man squad for the final phase of the upcoming Group B CONCACAF qualifiers for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The squad will leave on Monday for Mexico for the Feb 21-25 tournament, with the group's top two finishers advancing to the 11th FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada from June 30 to July 22.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Dr Weatherly made the announcement yesterday at the headquarters of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) during a motivational luncheon which had clinical psychiatrist Dr Wendell Abel as special guest speaker.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The squad comprises three overseas-based players in Joel Grant (Watford FC, England), Joel Senior (Howard University, USA) and Omar Persard (San Diego State University, USA), who were all part of the lengthy team camp at Munro College.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The team looks balanced on paper with a few utility players who could feature prominently during the tournament in the western Mexican city of Culiacán.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Other than the foreign-based trio, there aren't any real surprises as all the players have featured in top youth competitions in the island recently.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The players have not gotten the international exposure one would have hoped for prior to such a tournament, but Dr Weatherly believes they can qualify from a group consisting of hosts Mexico, Costa Rica and St Kitts &amp; Nevis.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"We'll see how they sort themselves out in the first 15 minutes of the opening game," said Dr Weatherly who took Jamaica to its first and only FIFA Under-17 World Youth Championships a few years ago.<P class=StoryText align=justify>".I think they possess the skills and talent to advance," he said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Meanwhile, in his delivery, Dr Abel browsed through the mental tools which players need to strengthen in order to compete. He told the youngsters of the importance of having self-belief, a fundamental tool in the drive for success.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Squad - Andre ****an, Dwayne Smith, Draion McNain, Dwayne Kerr, Dwayne Miller, Edward Campbell, Eric Vernan, James Thomas, Joel Grant, Joel Senior, Keammar Daley, Michael Binns, Montrose Phinn, Nicholas Beckett, Ricardo Cousins, Troy Smith, Alonzo Adlam, Andre Campbell, Norman Daley, Omar Persard
Team officials: Crenston Boxhill (president/head of delegation), Dr Dean Weatherly, coach; Desmond Smith, assistant coach; Sean Samuels, physical trainer; Dr Javed Ramdial, team doctor; Denese Allen, physiotherapist; Courtney Brown, team manager.

[Karl]

RE: The U-20 Quest

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Team officials left behind as U-20s gear for Qualifiers</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer staff reporter hancela.jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, February 18, 2007
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>National Under-20 team doctor Dr Javed Ramdial and physiotherapist Denese Allen will not be among the orginally announced 27-member delegation en route to Culiacán, Mexico.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The young Reggae Boyz will depart the island tomorrow morning at 6:35 for the Group B CONCACAF Qualifiers of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Both Ramdial and Allen will be unable to leave with the full delegation, after their travel documents were not among the original batch sent to the Mexican Football Association in Mexico, which in turn sent the list to their Immigration, notifying them of the Jamaican delegation's impending arrival.<P class=StoryText align=justify>As such the Mexican Immigration issued an authorisation letter to the Mexican Embassy in Jamaica to grant visas to the individuals listed to make the trip for the tournament.
However, due to the fact that the pair weren't on the original list, their travel documents could not be processed.<P class=StoryText align=justify>But head of delegation and JFF president Crenston Boxhill told the Sunday Observer the duo should get to the important Feb 21-25 Qualifiers before Wednesday.
"They weren't on the original list... in which we weren't informed until late Friday evening (last)," said Boxhill.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"The first thing Monday morning, we will go to the Mexican Embassy and have everything sorted out and try and get them on the next available flight," he added.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Jamaica will compete against hosts Mexico, Costa Rica and St Kitts &amp; Nevis for the last two remaining spots in CONCACAF for the Under-20 World Cup to be played in Canada from June 30 to July 22. The USA and Panama have already qualified from the region.

[Jamaica2099]

RE: The U-20 Quest

This U-20 REGGAE BOYZ lack of preparation by the JFF will still upset me even if, and that's a big IF,they manage to overcome the odds and grab one of the two spots to the U-20 World Cup. Will international friendlies be arrange IF they qualify????????

What shortsightedness is this by the JFF knowing from last year that the U-20 qualifiers were front and foremost. Was emphasis purely based on profit-makingby Boxhill.Is there no one person he could have appointed to make arrangements for some international friendlies asarranged and planned by the U-20 coach Dr. Weatherly.

Congrats to the U-17s for doing us proud, but someone should remind Messr. Boxhill and Company that it is the JAMAICA FOOTBALL FEDERATION and not the JAMAICA U-17 FOOTBALL FEDERATION.

[Mosiah]

RE: The U-20 Quest

I just hope the U-20s can surprise me by qualifying. I am not sure they have the goods to deliver, not to mention the quality warm-up matches necessary to compete at this level.

[Jamaica2099]

RE: The U-20 Quest

(Pray)(Pray)(Pray)(Pray)(Pray)(Pray)(Pray)(Pray) Mosiah and all the forumites from today.