A MAINLY local-based Jamaica senior football team will play Central Americans Guatemala in a practice match at Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, at 7:00 p.m. (Ja time) today.
The match will provide preparation for some members of the team as they gear up for next Saturday's important CONCACAF semi-final group World Cup qualifier against Panama in Panama City.
Of the 21 members on call for today's game, only two - reserve goalie Aaron Lawrence and midfielder Fabian Davis, who has been spending a lot of time on the bench lately - have been regulars for qualifying matches.
There are other players who have travelled extensively with the team in the past two years including midfielder Cornel Chin-Sue and his Arnett teammate, defender Gerald Neil. Harbour View full back Robert Scarlett returns after a long absence from the squad.
A lot of players who represented the country at junior level will get a chance to show their worth to the team's recently appointed head coach, Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni.
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES
Keith Kelly, who did a two-year stint in Europe at Paris St. Germain and several other clubs after a string of impressive performances at the FIFA Under-20 Youth World Cup in Argentina, is included along with some recent members of the Under-21 team.
They are Luton Shelton, Akeem Priestley, Richard West and the under-utilised Lenworth Hyde Jnr.
Prior to their departure, the coaching staff pointed out that this game would not select any player for next week's clash against Panama, thus, the bulk of the players will be returning home.
However, a few will remain in Miami where they will be joined by the overseas-based representatives who ply their skills in the professional leagues of Britain and the United States.
Those key players are to start assembling from as early as tomorrow in Miami, where they will continue training before leaving for Panama on Thursday.
The Jamaicans are challenging for a place in the German 2006 World Cup finals. Two of the four countries will qualify from this semi-final group series to CONCACAF's Final Six play-off.
The top three nations will advance to the World Cup finals in Germany, while the fourth team will play-off with the fifth placed team from the Asian qualifiers for the next spot.
Squad for today's match: Aaron Lawrence, Richard McCallum, Jermaine Taylor, Adrian Reid, Rodolph Austin, Fabian Davis, Gerald Neil, Anthowe Dawkins, Damion Williams, Cornel Chin-Sue, Keith Kelly, Akeem Priestley, Mario Harrison, Richard West, Teofore Bennett, Christopher Jackson, Luton Shelton, Khari Stephenson, Jermaine Hue, Lenworth Hyde Jnr. and Robert Scarlett.
