Dean delays Under-23 training camp

[Karl]

Dean delays Under-23 training camp
DOWNSWELL. We're watching the situation and assessing

A camp for Jamaica's Under-23 footballers, which was due to start yesterday in preparation for an Olympic Games qualifying tournament in Aruba, has been postponed until conditions are considered favourable in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean.

The team's coach Wendell Downswell said lingering rain yesterday and the general fall-out associated with the category four storm that swept across the island on Sunday triggered the decision to delay the start of the camp.

'We're watching the situation and assessing as we go along. Right now there is no electricity at the players' residence (Shortwood) and there is no stand-by generator, so we have to hope that power is returned soon to that area so we can commence,' Downswell said yesterday.

http://www.reggaeboyzsc.com/articles...170&category=1

[Karl]

U-20s to form core of Olympic squad

U-20s to form core of Olympic squad
Coach targets Shelton for latter stages of qualifiers

SEAN A WILLIAMS, Assistant Sports editor
Thursday, August 23, 2007


NATIONAL youth football coach Wendell Downswell said "a high percentage" of the Under-20 group that won an unprecedented silver medal at the Pan Am Games in Brazil recently will constitute the Under-23 Olympic squad.

Downswell, who guided the Under-20s in Brazil where they lost 2-1 to Ecuador in the final for the gold medal, noted that it was the natural thing to do since the players had done so well in the tournament.

"...They've done well in Brazil and we want to keep them on the path where they can make the transition as we prepare for the World Cup 2010 campaign," he said.

On Tuesday, Downswell did not say exactly how many of the Under-20s will be promoted to the Olympic squad, but outgoing president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Crenston Boxhill, said last Thursday he was reliably informed by Downswell that the training squad will include over "50 per cent of our Pan Am silver medal team".

Downswell, a former Jamaica forward and head coach of the Senior national team, said it would be a tremendous boost if they could get Sheffield United's Luton Shelton for the Group B Caribbean tournament set for Aruba from September 9-13. "We were hoping to get Luton Shelton for this tournament, but seeing that these games will not be played on FIFA dates, this may be difficult. But if not, we would love to have him in the more crucial stages," he said on Tuesday.

Jamaica's Under-23 footballers - on the quest to qualify for their first Olympic Games in Beijing, China, next year - will face the hosts, Antigua & Barbuda and Barbados in the four-team play-offs in the southern Caribbean island. Only the winners will advance to the next stage.

Downswell noted that while it may be perceived that these teams are weaker than Jamaica, he will not be taking them for granted.
"You know our status in the region, and although these teams are not as big, there will be no room for complacency," he declared.

Meanwhile, the team's preparation, which was scheduled to start with a camp on Tuesday, has been delayed by the passage of Hurricane Dean.

But Downswell said he was keeping his fingers crossed - with the return of electricity and generally improved conditions in the aftermath of Dean - that the training camp could get going by today. He conceded that every day lost will put added pressure on the programme going forward.
"There's no doubt that a delay in the start of the camp will affect the whole preparation, because everyday we lose is another day we have to spend catching up...," he said.

When contacted yesterday, JFF press officer Garth Williams said he was still awaiting the list of players for the training squad.

[Mosiah]

I think that would be a mistake. Wendell needs to take a look at all the players available and pick the best squad. There are 3 full years difference between both competitions and that is a lot! Do not send the boyz, silver medal and all, to do a man'z job.

Could very well turn out that many of those U-20 players would make the U-23 but it would be wrong to automatically use them. What next, the senior Reggae Boyz?!?! Actually, that's exactly what he is suggesting.

After all the disappointments over the last few years, we mustn't allow this silver medal to force us into decisions driven by the euphoria. I doubt very much that, come Olympic qualifiers, teams will be sending their U-20s in the same way some sent U-17 for the Pan Am tourney.

[Karl]

I think that would be a mistake. Wendell needs to take a look at all the players available and pick the best squad. There are 3 full years difference between both competitions and that is a lot! Do not send the boyz, silver medal and all, to do a man'z job.

Could very well turn out that many of those U-20 players would make the U-23 but it would be wrong to automatically use them. What next, the senior Reggae Boyz?!?! Actually, that's exactly what he is suggesting.

After all the disappointments over the last few years, we mustn't allow this silver medal to force us into decisions driven by the euphoria. I doubt very much that, come Olympic qualifiers, teams will be sending their U-20s in the same way some sent U-17 for the Pan Am tourney.

That that attitude may waste more time before 'real' preparations is on...but, hey we hope the Good Captain will ensure such crazy thoughts do not hold sway...

...unless, Wendell is not so crazy in that his assessment has him 'certain' and would have "football knowledgeable" persons convinced that many of the U-20s are among the very best players in the island?

[Assasin]

I read where Boxhill said he wanted half of the under 20 squad to represent the under 23.

That create a problem as I thought Bora was using a lot of under 23 to prepare for this. As you say there ia big difference between under 20 and under 23 and we should only have the best going. If some from the under 20 is good enough so be it but I can't see them been the core group.

[Gamma]

see what happened in brasil when argentina and brasil sent their u17 to play u20!!!