Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Reggae Boyz captain Fabian Davis (right) is caught in discussion with Sean Fraser (centre) during their training session at the National Stadium on Friday. At left is midfielder Omar Daley. All three players are expected to figure prominently for Jamaica in today's clash against Canada. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
THE ACHING Reggae Boyz will today try to restore lost pride when they take on Canada in an international friendly at the National Stadium starting at 5:00 p.m. Jamaica, coming off their embarrassing first-round exit in the Digicel Caribbean Cup, have nothing to play for but pride.
Interim coach Carl Brown, who will vacate office next month, says the Boyz are up for it and they know what to do.
"The fact that we are playing Canada makes it not really difficult to motivate the players," Brown said.
"The team is coming off a disappointment by not qualifying in the Digicel Cup. The players are aware of what is happening to them right now," he said.
"They just need to get out there and play as well as they can. I am certain that that will push them to ensure that they get a good result."
BOOED BY FANS
Jamaica's Digicel Caribbean Cup debacle means the team also failed to qualify for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States and will not have a competitive game until the World Cup qualifiers start in 2008.
The Reggae Boyz played without verve and looked tepid during the Digicel Cup and were booed by their loyal but knowledgeable fans.
So with only pride to play for, the Reggae Boyz will have the task to produce a 'Joga Bonito', which means "play beautifully" in Portuguese.
Jamaica, ranked 77 in the world, have lost seven of their past 10 games with victories coming against Guatemala on October 1, 2005 and the recent 4-0 and 2-0 victories against St. Lucia and Haiti respectively.
PLUMMETING RECORD
Jamaica's poor record has seen the team plummet down the world ranking to their lowest point in years and it could drop even further when the next list is published.
Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton, Jermaine Hue, Claude Davis, Khari Stephenson and Jamal Campbell-Ryce will have to work overtime to secure Jamaica's first win over Canada since September 1997 when they won 1-0.
Meanwhile Canada, or the Maple Leaf Boys, are currently on a high and will be trying to extend their winning streak to five with another victory over Jamaica.
In 10 meetings to date, Canada have won six times to Jamaica's one with three games ending in draws.
NO UNDER-ESTIMATING
Stephen Hart, the interim coach of Canada, is overlooking Jamaica recent poor performances and knows he will have a game on his hand.
Said Hart: "Jamaica always have to be respected and moreso in 'The Office'. The team that lost to St Vincent will not be the team that plays tomorrow. I am in an interim position and it is always difficult. But you are not asking them to play for the coach, you are asking them to play for country," he said.
Only four players in the Canadian squad are not plying their trade overseas - the Montreal Impact trio of goalkeeper Greg Sutton and defenders Adam Braz and Gabriel Gervais along with the late inclusion of Martin Nash of the 2006 United Soccer Leagues Champion Vancouver Whitecaps.
Canada will be looking to Paul Stalteri of Tottenham Hotspur (England), Julian de Guzman, Deportivo La Coruna (Spain), Josh Simpson, Kaiserslautern (Germany), Tomasz Radzinski, Fulham (England) and Rob Friend, Heerenveen (Netherlands) to lead the charge.
