Boyz look to St Kitts

By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter

JUST DAYS after getting their 2002 World Cup campaign back on track, Jamaica's national football team will restart its preparation for a crucial game against Mexico on September 1 at the National Stadium.

Jamaica are currently in fourth place on goal difference in the CONCACAF qualifiers from which the top three teams advance to the World Cup finals.

General secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, yesterday confirmed a Caribbean News Agency report that the Reggae Boyz have accepted an offer to participate in the St Kitts/Nevis football festival later this month.

"Yes we have accepted the offer," Reid told the Gleaner yesterday. "We were waiting on a fax and we have received it so yes will be taking part," Reid continued about the tournament which will be having its fourth staging.

The Reggae Boyz, Reid said, play their first game on July 27 against Martinique who finished third in the 2001 Copa Caribe and close out the tournament on July 29 against the host nation.

"This is largely about the preparation of the local-based players for our next World Cup game. As you know most of our overseas-based players have returned for pre-season training and would not be available to us just now. Ian Goodison and Theodore Whitmore are due to leave on July 6 while Ricardo Gardner's club has granted him an extension until July 17.

"Even though we will not be having these overseas-based the next squad which is due to be back in camp next Thursday should have enough experience in Linval Dixon, Donovan Ricketts, Aaron Lawrence, Shavar Thomas and Marco McDonald."

Quizzed about the return of the out-of-favour Jermaine Johnson and Winston Griffiths, Reid said that was a possibility.

In addition to the St Kitts/Nevis tournament, Reid said that there are two games set for early August. On August 1 they play Grenada in Grenada before heading for London where they will play a game against a team yet to be named.

Questioned about the quality of the teams which matches are set up against Reid said: "There are a number of factors why we played these games. Firstly there are no longer any weak nations in football.

"Secondly most other players have returned to their clubs also so we would not be able to have them. We got other offers to play games from Paraguay and Peru who wanted to come here. We could not take up their offer right now because the dates would not suit us.

"Additionally the cost of the games would be astronomical and we have to be careful of the opponents we select in a World Cup year as the support is very fickle."

With the return of technical director Clovis de Oliveira, who went to Brazil over the weekend following a robbery at his house, more games will be set for August, Reid said.

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