Daley (left) and Williams (right) IT WOULD be most fitting if Jamaica's Under-23 football team can match the coincidence of today's festivities with a victory at the National Stadium over Guatemala in their age group confrontation of the CONCACAF Olympic second round qualifiers at 4:00 p.m.
The game forms part of a double-header celebrating the anniversary of the Reggae Boyz' historic World Cup football qualification for the France '98 finals.
Strange enough, the Under-23 team is seeking to etch its name in history as the first Jamaican team to qualify for the Olympic football competition.
As a feature of this evening's showcase, the senior national team will parade its skills against El Salvador at 6:00p.m. before the game's boss, FIFA president Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter and one of his deputies, Austin 'Jack' Warner.
Both shared lead roles at functions earlier today honouring people who have contributed to Jamaica's football including past players, JFF presidents, referees, referees in World Cup and match officials, as well as breaking ground for a national training centre for the sport in Portmore.
Such milestones are significant however, the juvenile battle that will kick off the double bill at 'The Office' is the most important of the day's activities.
It is the first of a two-way showdown between these nations, that will decide one of the six remaining qualifiers for the ultimate play-off for next year's Olympics.
Due to the fact that it is their home game, the Jamaicans feel a need to win.
"We really want to win this leg," Jamaica's technical director, Carl Brown, told The Gleaner.
FIRST LEG MATCH
"We're not certain what we're going to encounter in Guatemala therefore we want to play in the conditions we know best and do as best as we can. We are prepared to try and win it from this first leg. We're looking at least at a two-goal cushion to take from this game," Brown said.
Jamaica utilised home advantage well against Cuba in the first round, beating them 1-0 here to make a 2-1 aggregate after holding their Caribbean neighbours Cuba to a 1-1 finish in their away tie.
Guatemala spanked eastern Caribbean team St. Lucia 6-1 away and 7-0 at home for a 13-1 aggregate while providing evidence of their destructive capabilities, to earn this match-up against Jamaica.
Brown said he is largely unaware of the opposing team's capabilities but expects them to be fit and technically sound.
"We don't have any tapes. When they played Suriname the senior team was in England and we were here playing our first game. We'd hoped they would have played a game since," Brown said.
"The technical staff has undergone some changes and we know a German works with them, so the physical condition would have been emphasised. We know technically they're good players so we're expecting a very tough game."
Of the 13 goals scored against St. Lucia, three apiece were scored by Julio Enrique and Fredy Thompson.
Desmond Breakenridge in Cuba and late substitute Roland Dean were first round scorers for a Jamaican team with a number of players that have senior international experience.
Chief among them are midfielders Omar Daley, Fabian Dawkins and Keith Kelly, who came off the bench with Dean, to win the last game against Cuba, as well as sweeper Shavar Thomas.
The technical director says "These are the players who have to step up to the fore".
Dawkins said the squad was prepared for the challenge, adding that the players had the will to succeed.
"It's very important for us to win and not allow the Guatemalans to score also because if they score, in the case of a tie, it counts as two goals, so we really want to win here then go over there and show them how much we can fight," said Dawkins.
"The desire for each an every one of the players is to win, the vibes in the camp are right ... everybody is just ready for the game, both mentally and physically," the Village United scoring ace added.
The return leg takes place in Guatemala next Sunday, November 19 following which the winner will advance to an eight-team final round qualifying tournament that is set to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, from February 2-12 next year.
Jamaica (starting team): Allien Whittaker, Christopher Harvey, Bradley Graham, Shavar Thomas, Garfield Reid, Desmond Breakenridge, Damian Williams, Omar Daley, Luton Shelton, Khari Stephenson, Tyrone Sawyers.
Meanwhile, the persons to be presented with awards at a function at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel this morning are:
Past presidents - Dr. Ron Gordon, Locksley Comrie, Patrick Anderson, Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland, Dr. Winston Dawes, Anthony James, Heron Dale.
Past referees - Karl Stewart, Ken Chaplin, Clarence Cooke, Whilston Taylor, Winston 'Dirks' Campbell, Steve Bucknor.
Referees in World Cup - Peter Prendergast, FIFA referee, World Cup 2002; Owen Powell, asst. FIFA referee, World Cup 1998.
Past players - Lester 'Fairy Boots' Alcock, Player of the Decade '50s; Syd Bartlett, Player of the Decade '60s; Allan 'Skill' Cole, Player of the Decade '70s; Paul 'Tegat' Davis, Player of the Decade '80s; Walter 'Pearl' Boyd, Player of the Decade '90s.
National coaches - Winston Chung-Fah, Carl Brown, George Thompson, Winthorpe 'Jackie' Bell, Dennis Ziadie.
- Audley Boyd
