Another game for the Reggaeboyz

[Mac]

From www.jamaica-gleaner.com


Full-strength Reggae Boyz to face Panama
Published: Thursday | April 5, 2012

With Jamaica set to commence the next staging of World Cup qualifying on June 8 when they host Guatemala at The Office, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, is promising a full-strength Reggae Boyz squad for the team's two remaining outings before re-engaging in qualification.

The 54th-ranked Reggae Boyz will host the 50th-ranked Panamanians on May 27, before journeying to Panama City for a next matchup on June 1.

The Reggae Boyz have not been able to assemble their strongest team over eight games, dating back to June last year when the nation participated in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Overseas players expected
"On Sunday the 27th of May, we will have all our overseas-based players from Europe, from the Far East, from the United States, and our home-grown players available for selection," Burrell disclosed while speaking at yesterday's sponsorship announcement ceremony for the local coaching school held at the JFF head office.

"We will have our full team to play against the Panamanians, who are fourth in CONCACAF ... . And as I understand, it the Panamanians are going to have their full complement of players," he added.

Burrell also lamented that hosting matches are "costly".

"International games are not very easy to stage these days because of cost and all. When you bring an international game here you have to pay the airfares and you have to pay a match fee," Burrell shared. "Things have gone up a great deal; the cost of the stadium has gone up, other associated cost have certainly gone up, and we are going to be keeping the prices as they were during the last World Cup campaign," he added.

ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com

[Dunny]

Should be a good test, looks like the JFF haven't got the money to fly in the overseas players on a regular basis, hence the reason why certain players haven't been playing over the past 12-18 months. It will be interesting to see the squad for the Panama games.

[HL]

Indeed, beating Panama will be a great achievement.

[Dunny]

The JFF boss said that the top players would be in a training camp, which
will be called to prepare the Boyz for the important World Cup Qualifying fixture against Guatemala, and away to Antigua and Barbuda four days later.
The game here on May 27 is set for a 6:00 pm kickoff, with admission prices being: Grandstand Category One - $2,500; Grandstand Category Two - $2,000; and Bleachers - $800.
It is expected that players such as Marlon King, Omar Cummings, Ryan Johnson, Dane Richards, Luton Shelton, Chris Humphrey, whom it is believed has now acquired his travel documents, as well as Darren Pratley, Marvin Elliott, Jason Morrison, Rodolph Austin, Omar Daley, Keammar Daley, Je-Vaughn Watson, Claude Davis, Demar Phillips, Damion Stewart, Nathan Smith, Donovan Ricketts and Dwayne Miller could be in camp from as early as middle to late May.
Names such as Jermaine Beckford of Leicester City, Jobi McAnnuf, the Reading captain, who has played for Jamaica as a teenager in 2002, and Junior Hoilett of Blackburn, who can also represent Canada, are also said to be in the mix.
Panama will open their World Cup Qualifying campaign away to Honduras on June 8, then host Cuba four days later.
The Panama tie follows on the heels of two friendlies against Cuba, one against New Zealand for the month February, and last month's showdown against Costa Rica.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1rCcM8YMJ