Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
IAN ALLEN, Staff Photographer -
Jamaica's captain Andy Williams (left) and French Guiana's Fabrice Torvic move toward a loose ball during their first-leg Digicel Caribbean Cup match that Jamaica won 5-0 at the National Stadium last Saturday. The teams will meet in the return-leg later in French Guiana.
WITH A five-goal cushion providing super comfort, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have basically qualified for the final round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup, needing only to avoid defeat by more than four goals in today's return leg, third round tie in the South American country of French Guiana.
Being that such a result is highly unlikely, given the way French Guiana played the Boyz at 'The Office' last week, it means that win, lose or draw, the Reggae train should roll over to Barbados to bid for the right to be called Caribbean champions and also earn a spot in CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Caribbean Cup is being played in three regional zones and the winner of each zone will converge on Barbados and play alongside that country in a four-team round for regional supremacy. The top three teams from this pool will advance to the Gold Cup in the United States.
While these targets seem to be in striking distance for the Reggae Boyz, team manager Howard "Juicy" Bell says it is important that the Boyz approach their goal in stride.
"We beat French Guiana 5-0 at home but we have to be mindful that we are playing them at their home. They will be no pushovers because they will be trying to impress a home crowd so we expect them to be competitive," Bell told The Gleaner in a telephone interview from French Guiana yesterday.
He added: "Right now the focus is not on Barbados, it is on this game. We have to get past this stage first and that is what we will hope to do tomorrow (today), get past French Guiana which will take us to Barbados. So our objective is to win and move on."
The Boyz will be without Tyrone Marshall, Omar Daley and Roland Dean, all of whom played in last week's win. Daley and Marshall are out due to club commitments, while Dean has been ruled out by injury.
DOOR OPENED
His omission has opened the door for the return of Damani Ralph, who would have got a look in were it not for a back strain that ruled him out last week. Also benefiting from the unavailability of the players is Waterhouse's captain, Desmond Breakenridge, who has been brought in to strengthen the defence due to Marshall's absence.
Jamaica, with 34 goals in their last five outings, will no doubt be looking to get close to the 40-mark this evening. However, up to
yesterday afternoon, Downswell was unable to see both Ralph and Luton Shelton in a training session since Jamaica landed on Thursday evening owing to heavy showers in French Guiana. Despite this, Ralph should partner Shelton upfront. Shelton and Dean are the
competition's joint leading scorers with seven goals apiece.
Ralph and Shelton should receive service from midfielders Andy Williams, Khari Stephenson and Jermaine Hue. Damion Stewart, Jermaine Taylor, Fabian Davis and Robert Scarlett are the sure starting defenders in the 5-3-2 formation, while Breakenridge and Tyrone Sawyers should battle for the other spot.
