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U-17s ready to do well
Jamaica's captain Dever Orgill (right) celebrates with teammate Christopher Banner after scoring against Mexico in their Under-17 friendly football international at Harbour View Mini Stadium earlier this year. - file
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Under-17 foot-ball team has taken on the philosophy of one for and all for one in a bid to qualify for the World Youth Championship in South Korea in August.
The squad has been living together at the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) players' residence and training almost every day since January. About half of the squad attend schools outside of Kingston and have been adopted by Camperdown and Calabar High to facilitate their training.
The final squad of 20 players that will compete in the competition between April 28 and May 6 is expected to be named today, and their skills and the chemistry they have developed over the last three and half months will be called on next Saturday.
"With the squad living together we have been able to train more often and they have really come together as a team," said coach David Hunt yesterday at a press conference where JMMB and the Sports Development Foundation were announced as sponsors.
One of the players that has relocated to Kingston is captain Dever Orgill. Orgill, a fourth form student of Titchfield High in Portland, is currently attending Camperdown and said the transition was a simple one.
"No difference," said the talented striker. " I just keep focussed on my schoolwork and do what I have to do."
As for preparations for the final round, Orgill said "training is more intense" and that the team is "very confident and we are living as a family. We have a close bond."
When the final squad is selected, Hunt said about half of the team will be members of the Under-15 aggregation that won the Caribbean Championships in 2005. With half of the squad having spent two years together as they also played at the Under-16 level last year, the players have grown and matured together, noted JFF president Crenston Boxhill.
Another event that made the team even closer was the 2-0 victory over world champions Mexico in a friendly on February 14.
"Beating Mexico was no fluke, and we have used it as a stepping stone", said Hunt, adding the victory came in three attempts having previously lost 2-1 and drew 1-1.
Jamaica will host USA, Canada, Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago with three of the teams qualifying for the World Cup.
Boxhill said that it will cost the JFF $18 million to host the final round but that the public can help to offset the costs by "rallying around the team and attending the games and play the important role of the 12th man."
Jamaica previously qualified for the Under-17 championships in 1999. Leading up to that tournament Jamaica also hosted the final qualifying round.
David Hunt
Jamaica's captain Dever Orgill (right) celebrates with teammate Christopher Banner after scoring against Mexico in their Under-17 friendly football international at Harbour View Mini Stadium earlier this year. - file
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Under-17 foot-ball team has taken on the philosophy of one for and all for one in a bid to qualify for the World Youth Championship in South Korea in August.
The squad has been living together at the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) players' residence and training almost every day since January. About half of the squad attend schools outside of Kingston and have been adopted by Camperdown and Calabar High to facilitate their training.
The final squad of 20 players that will compete in the competition between April 28 and May 6 is expected to be named today, and their skills and the chemistry they have developed over the last three and half months will be called on next Saturday.
"With the squad living together we have been able to train more often and they have really come together as a team," said coach David Hunt yesterday at a press conference where JMMB and the Sports Development Foundation were announced as sponsors.
One of the players that has relocated to Kingston is captain Dever Orgill. Orgill, a fourth form student of Titchfield High in Portland, is currently attending Camperdown and said the transition was a simple one.
"No difference," said the talented striker. " I just keep focussed on my schoolwork and do what I have to do."
As for preparations for the final round, Orgill said "training is more intense" and that the team is "very confident and we are living as a family. We have a close bond."
When the final squad is selected, Hunt said about half of the team will be members of the Under-15 aggregation that won the Caribbean Championships in 2005. With half of the squad having spent two years together as they also played at the Under-16 level last year, the players have grown and matured together, noted JFF president Crenston Boxhill.
Another event that made the team even closer was the 2-0 victory over world champions Mexico in a friendly on February 14.
"Beating Mexico was no fluke, and we have used it as a stepping stone", said Hunt, adding the victory came in three attempts having previously lost 2-1 and drew 1-1.
Jamaica will host USA, Canada, Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago with three of the teams qualifying for the World Cup.
Boxhill said that it will cost the JFF $18 million to host the final round but that the public can help to offset the costs by "rallying around the team and attending the games and play the important role of the 12th man."
Jamaica previously qualified for the Under-17 championships in 1999. Leading up to that tournament Jamaica also hosted the final qualifying round.
David Hunt
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