By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterJAMAICA'S UNDER-20 football team recently returned from Germany where they performed creditably and won the hearts of the Germans with their level of play.
In an interview with the team after their return from Germany where they managed a quarter-final finish, beating Bayern Munich in the process, The Gleaner got a view of what the tour meant for the youngsters.
Firstly, the Jamaican contingent, after only being assembled three weeks prior to going to Germany, played against teams that had passed through at least six different age groups playing together.
With that in mind their achievements are remarkable, especially bearing in mind the fact that the previous team, boasting the likes of Keith Kelly and Omar Daley, failed to make it past the first round in the same tournament.
The Jamaicans lost their first match, suffering from jet lag and being unaccustomed to the cold climate. However their 1-0 loss to Fortuna Lucidas was no embarrassment.
They improved after that and earned a creditable 0-0 draw with no lesser of a team than Borussia Dortmund. That performance against their age group counterparts earned the respect of the tournament organisers and the German footballing fans.
"In the second game we won the hearts of the German fans with our performance," national Under-20 coach Wendell Downswell told The Gleaner.
SECOND ROUND
That success lifted them into the second round for what was thought to be a game where they stood no chance.
Bayern Munich, a team that is world renowned for producing excellent football at all levels of the game, were surprised in a 0-1 loss. According to the Jamaican coaching staff, their team should have had a much larger margin of victory, thus the 1-0 scoreline is said to have belied the nature of the game.
On the same day that the Jamaicans beat Bayern Munich they were asked to play in the quarter-finals against Bayern Leverkusen, who had been given a bye to the quarters after topping their first round zone.
In a performance that showed heart and guts, the Jamaicans played to another 0-0 draw and only lost out in the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
The coaching staff says even more important than the performance of the young Boyz in Germany was the experience garnered.
"I learnt that self-belief is very important ... Before this we never thought that we could beat Bayern Munich," said Akeem Priestly, the goalscorer in Jamaica's 1-0 win over the world famous club.
Ryan Thompson, who's goalkeeping efforts were lauded, thinks they learnt very important things.
"We learnt that it isn't only talent that plays football; teamwork and the right attitude are even more important contributors," he said.
Luton Shelton took a more technical approach, saying: "I saw how teams attacked in numbers and defended in numbers at the same time, and we want to acquire the same level of organisation on the field."
Andre Reid says he was most impressed with playing standards.
"The quality of the fields there are far superior to ours and it makes playing quality football much easier," he said.
The team leaves for Fort Lauderdale today where they will play against the United States' Under-20 team.
The Americans have qualified for every major tournament in the last decade and can be considered the kingpins of CONCACAF at the junior level. This makes them the measuring stick for the Jamaicans, who are looking to qualify for the Under-20 World Cup.
"If we continue to believe in ourselves and play like we did in Germany," said Priestly "USA dead!", a point chorused by fellow teammates standing close.
The squad is: Ralston Robinson, Ryan Thompson, Kieron Bernard, Rafe Wolfe, Howard Wong, Keneil Moodie, Nicholy Findlayson, Jermaine Taylor, Ricardo Taylor, Merrick Howard, Ricardo Cousins, Akeem Priestly, Luton Shelton, Rudolph Austin, Richard West, Adrian Reid, Durant Mylton and Dean Thompson.
