By Audley Boyd, Staff ReporterTHE REGGAE Boyz will be out to continue rebuilding their image when they meet Guatemala tonight in Guatemala City at 8:00 p.m.
"We've found ourselves in a position where we need to make good results every time. The lack of sponsorship and the lack of attention at the present time means we need good results," explained technical director designate, Carl Brown, ahead of the team's departure for the Central American country on Monday night.
Since hitting a high on the '98 Road to France campaign to football's pinnacle - the World Cup Finals - the fortunes of Jamaica's senior team and its world ranking tumbled with failure to qualify for this summer's version and a series of unimpressive scores, namely a 5-0 whipping by the US in May.
However, a 1-1 tie with hosts Japan earlier this month went some way to restoring Jamaica's standing.
"With a higher ranking more people will be looking at our players," Brown said. "It's very critical and particularly to us now that we've youngsters who are aspiring to go on and play professional football," he said. "If we can do well out there the clubs (local) can benefit and it can filter down the whole development on that side."
Four US-based Major League stars and a cast of local-based players are on duty for tonight's match.
Tyrone Marshall of newly-crowned MLS champions LA Galaxy, Winston Griffiths, Wolde Harris and Craig Ziadie are the quartet who play in the US.
Along with the lot who play in the Premier League here, Brown says the game gives them an opportunity to make the squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup playoffs to be staged in Grenada next month.
"The Caribbean playoffs comes up in another two weeks and like the Japan game, it gives the players a chance for selection for that tournament," he said.
Brown, a long-time national coach who conditioned teams against Guatemala in the early '90s, agreed with the choice to play them now.
"I think it's a very good choice. They're also in transition and with the Japan result, they will be looking to do well too.
Squad: Goalkeepers - Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers; Defenders - Kirk Hendricks, Linval Dixon, Ian Goodison, Irvino English, Tyrone Marshall, Craig Ziadie, Robert Scarlett; Midfielders - William Wilson, Omar Daley, Jonathan Williams, Winston Griffiths; Forwards - Thomas Grant, Roen Nelson, Fabian Taylor, Wolde Harris.
