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Injuries hit Reggae Girlz
Boyz take on Argentina today in stern test
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil - Jamaica's senior footballers are fighting an uphill battle to field a starting XI for today's must-win final Group 'A' clash against world No 8-ranked Canada at the Zico Football Centre at 1:00 pm (11:00 am Jamaica time).
Head coach Charles Edwards told the Observer that four players have been ruled out of the game - two because of suspensions and two due to injuries - while two others are down with the flu.
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil - Jamaica's Under-20 men's team warms up on Monday ahead of today's game against favourites Argentina. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
"The situation is looking very tight for us right now because it's a struggle to find even an XI to start at the moment," a concerned Edwards said. "Out of 18 we have about six or seven down."
Nicola Bell and Diana Hue are out on red-card suspension; captain Hishamar Falconer and Jody McGreggor are struggling with flu-like symptoms, while Omalyn Davis, Christina Murray and Shereen Clarke are all nursing knee injuries.
"We are working with the medical staff to see how best we can get them up for tomorrow's (today's) game," the coach explained.
"The job is going to be how to motivate them going into this game because obviously the game is still important to us. The good thing is that we'll be playing Canada on a much smaller field, so it will give us an opportunity to shut them down (defensively) a lot easier than when we played Brazil on a much larger field," he said, noting that team morale is still high, despite the problems.
Canada will start as overwhelming favourites, having beaten the Reggae Girlz 3-0 in their most recent encounter last year at the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup in Los Angeles. Canada need only a draw to qualify for the semi-finals, along with host nation Brazil.
On the other hand, Jamaica - with four points from three games - must win to stand any chance of progressing to the last four. Brazil lead the group with maximum nine points from three games.
Meanwhie, the Under-20 Reggae Boyz, buoyed by their 1-0 win over Colombia in their opening Group C match, will face a stern test against 2002 World Youth Cup champions Argentina at the Miecimo da Silva Complex at 2:15 pm (12:15 pm Jamaica time).
Following a short training session at the Athletes Village yesterday, coach Wendell Downswell told the Observer that the young Reggae Boyz are upbeat ahead of the mammoth encounter.
"The fact that we have won the first game has done a lot in terms of our confidence coming into this clash, because as you know we had limited preparation, but the players are looking forward to the encounter against one of the favourites of the competition," he said.
Downswell said he will be starting the same XI that beat Colombia on Monday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
In the meantime, the bulk of Jamaica's track & field contingent arrived in Brazil yesterday ahead of Monday's start of their section of these quadrennial continental Games.
According to Chef de Mission Compton Rodney, 2006 Commonwealth Games Decathlon silver medallist Maurice Smith as well as sprint hurdler Delloreen Ennis-London - the 2005 World Championship silver medallist - are among the 10 athletes along with coach Raymond Stewart, still to arrive in Rio de Janeiro.
The full women's basketball contingent also touched down in Brazil yesterday.
Boyz take on Argentina today in stern test
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil - Jamaica's senior footballers are fighting an uphill battle to field a starting XI for today's must-win final Group 'A' clash against world No 8-ranked Canada at the Zico Football Centre at 1:00 pm (11:00 am Jamaica time).
Head coach Charles Edwards told the Observer that four players have been ruled out of the game - two because of suspensions and two due to injuries - while two others are down with the flu.
RIO de Janeiro, Brazil - Jamaica's Under-20 men's team warms up on Monday ahead of today's game against favourites Argentina. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)"The situation is looking very tight for us right now because it's a struggle to find even an XI to start at the moment," a concerned Edwards said. "Out of 18 we have about six or seven down."
Nicola Bell and Diana Hue are out on red-card suspension; captain Hishamar Falconer and Jody McGreggor are struggling with flu-like symptoms, while Omalyn Davis, Christina Murray and Shereen Clarke are all nursing knee injuries.
"We are working with the medical staff to see how best we can get them up for tomorrow's (today's) game," the coach explained.
"The job is going to be how to motivate them going into this game because obviously the game is still important to us. The good thing is that we'll be playing Canada on a much smaller field, so it will give us an opportunity to shut them down (defensively) a lot easier than when we played Brazil on a much larger field," he said, noting that team morale is still high, despite the problems.
Canada will start as overwhelming favourites, having beaten the Reggae Girlz 3-0 in their most recent encounter last year at the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup in Los Angeles. Canada need only a draw to qualify for the semi-finals, along with host nation Brazil.
On the other hand, Jamaica - with four points from three games - must win to stand any chance of progressing to the last four. Brazil lead the group with maximum nine points from three games.
Meanwhie, the Under-20 Reggae Boyz, buoyed by their 1-0 win over Colombia in their opening Group C match, will face a stern test against 2002 World Youth Cup champions Argentina at the Miecimo da Silva Complex at 2:15 pm (12:15 pm Jamaica time).
Following a short training session at the Athletes Village yesterday, coach Wendell Downswell told the Observer that the young Reggae Boyz are upbeat ahead of the mammoth encounter.
"The fact that we have won the first game has done a lot in terms of our confidence coming into this clash, because as you know we had limited preparation, but the players are looking forward to the encounter against one of the favourites of the competition," he said.
Downswell said he will be starting the same XI that beat Colombia on Monday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
In the meantime, the bulk of Jamaica's track & field contingent arrived in Brazil yesterday ahead of Monday's start of their section of these quadrennial continental Games.
According to Chef de Mission Compton Rodney, 2006 Commonwealth Games Decathlon silver medallist Maurice Smith as well as sprint hurdler Delloreen Ennis-London - the 2005 World Championship silver medallist - are among the 10 athletes along with coach Raymond Stewart, still to arrive in Rio de Janeiro.
The full women's basketball contingent also touched down in Brazil yesterday.