Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
DOWNSWELL
PORTSMOUTH STRIKER Ricardo Fuller has been included in an 18-man squad chosen by national coach, Wendel Downswell, to face off against a Wray and Nephew Premier League All-Star team at the National Stadium tomorrow at 7:00 pm.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is using this game as part of their preparation for the Gold Cup tournament starting in July, after being set back with the cancellation of the Unity Cup which was scheduled for London in June.
"With the Unity Cup, which was scheduled for June 11 cancelled, this will be a very important game to us. It will be our final game going into the Gold Cup and it will definitely help us in terms of preparation," Downswell told The Gleaner.
The squad selected for the game is a part of a larger group who will represent the nation in the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
ALL-STAR TEAM
While the Wray and Nephew All-Star team which the Reggae Boyz will face, was selected by the public via digi-text, it will be coached and managed by the Waterhouse duo of Geoffrey Maxwell and Peter Hibbert respectively.
In addition to Fuller, English-based players goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts of English First Division Bradford City, defender Claude Davis of Championship Division Preston North End and Jermaine Johnson, formerly of Oldham Athletics, but who is currently on the transfer market have also been included.
They will, however, be without their overseas-based United States counterparts as Andy Williams (Chicago Fire), Tyrone Marshall (LA Galaxy), Theofore Bennet (Virginia Beach Mariners) and Khari Stephenson (Kansas City Wizards) will all be unavailiable due to club commitments.
Striker Damani Ralph of Russia's FC Rubin Kazan, while a part of the Gold Cup squad, will also be unavailable for Thursday's game.
The local contingent will include Shawn Sawyers, Kevin Deerr, Tyrone Sawyers and Omar Daley of Premier League champs, Portmore United. Robert Scarlett, Lovel Palmer, Damion Stewart, Luton Shelton and Jermaine Hue of Harbour View FC Reno's Nicholy Findlayson, Rivoli's Garfield Reid and Tivoli Gardens' Roland Dean, who has been recalled to the squad, close out the selection.
"We have started the whole rebuilding process and we have looked for players who will more than likely be around for 2010 and senior players who can make a healthy contribution in terms of the transition for the new players," Downswell explained about his selection.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is set to begin on July 6th in the United States.
