Trinidad and Tobago striker Dwight Yorke observes Jamaica's national team in training at the National Stadium yesterday ahead of the World Cup clash between the two teams today starting at 1:00 p.m. - Michael SloleyBy Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
IT WILL be like a boxing match with two heavyweights fighting for the championship at the National Stadium at 1:00 p.m. today.
Trinidad and Tobago the top-ranked team in the Caribbean take on Jamaica, the first and only English-speaking Caribbean country to qualify for the World Cup finals.
Like the heat at that time of the day, the action is expected to be hot with many battles expected to be fought on different fronts.
On the offensive line, the likes of Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy of Trinidad and Tobago going up against defensive walls named Ian Goodison and Linval Dixon.
Another area of interest will be to see how the historically porus Trinidad and Tobago defence stands up against raids from the Jamaican forward line of Deon Burton and possibly Barry Hayles as well as Jamaica's answer to Latapy, Theodore Whitmore, depending on the frame of mind in which he reports.
They will contend with Marvin Andrews, new recruit Ian Cox, Anthony Rougier and Dennis Lawrence.
Getting by the T&T defence is but one hurdle as after that Jamaica will have to contend with top quality goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. On the other hand, Jamaica's Leon Gordon will be making his international debut. What young Gordon has going for him is that he is good at crosses, has a cool head and is a good shot stopper.
Today's game marks the beginning of the final round (the group of six qualifiers in CONCACAF) in which each team plays 10 matches in order to earn one of three places in Japan and South Korea next year. This is more than about bragging rights and neither team can afford to slip.
Jamaica need to win as they are playing at home and coach Clovis de Oliveira is well aware of that.
"I respect them, they have wonderful international players but we have international players in our squad too," de Oliveira said about the twin threat of Yorke and Latapy who will be the linchpin of the twin-island republic's team.
He said no special attention would be paid to the duo but that his team would focus on all 11 opponents.
"We have to be careful of 11 players so that is going to be our rule. We are going to respect them but as soon as the referee blows the whistle we are in our home, in front of our supporters, so we are going to do our best to get a positive result."
De Oliveira's opposite number, Ian Porterfield, is expecting a tough game.
"Obviously, it is a local derby. Two Caribbean nations fighting against each other for three points towards the World Cup qualifications so there is a lot at stake in this game and it going to be a big occasion for both teams," Porterfield said.
Like de Oliveira, Porterfield does not believe any area in the Jamaican team will have to be singled out for special attention.
Focus or refocus have been key words in the Jamaican camp which has seen one setback after another. There was the tragic death of Steve Malcolm, the banning of top striker Onandi Lowe and the loss of injury to the top two goalkeepers, Donovan Ricketts and Aaron Lawrence.
Despite all that, the team seems to be in good spirit and de Oliveira believes the crises have made the team stronger.
"We are sad about that (the mishaps) but all of these have made us stronger. We are going to take the performance and attitude of Steven Malcolm as our guide tomorrow.
"Whatever he has done in his career we are going to do two times more and it would be good if we could do them twice as much."
The Junior Boyz will also be in action today as at 7:00 this evening they tackle Mexico in an Under-20 Wolrd Cup qualifier in Victoria, Canada. Also in contention for a place in Argentina later this year are Canada and Honduras.
Teams: Jamaica - Leon Gordon, Chris Dawes, Ian Goodison, Linval Dixon, Ricardo Gardner, Tyrone Marshall, Darryl Powell, Theodore Whitmore, Andy Williams, Deon Burton and Barry Hayles or Ricardo Fuller or Wolde Harris.
Trinidad and Tobago - Shaka Hislop, Marvin Andrews, Ian Cox, Dennis Lawrence, Anthony Rougier, Russell Latapy, Ronnie Mauge or Reynold Carrington, Angus Eve, Lyndon Andrews or Stokely Mason, Dwight Yorke.
TODAY'S GAMES
Home teams listed first)
Costa Rica vs Honduras
JAMAICA vs Trinidad & Tobago
United States vs Mexico
