Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
IAN ALLEN, Staff Photographer -
Jamaica's striker Roland Dean prepares to shoot at goal during their 5-0 win over French Guiana in their first-leg Digicel Caribbean Cup match at the National Stadium on Saturday night. A late decision will be made on whether Dean travels with the squad for the return game, as he is nursing an injury.
JAMAICA WILL be leaving the island tomorrow with a different 18-man squad from the one that produced the one-sided 5-0 thumping of semi-final Digicel Cup opponents, French Guiana, at the National Stadium on Saturday night.
According to national coach Wendell Downswell, the changes, though significant, won't diminish the power of the Jamaican contingent.
Roland Dean, who was injured in the second-half of the first-leg game, might not be a part of the contingent to French Guiana, as he has to await the report of the team's physiotherapist to give him the clear.
"With Dean we'll have to wait on a report from the physio but I don't think it's too serious. In any case, we have an ample replacement in Damani Ralph."
Two of the three overseas-based players on Saturday night won't be available either. Omar Daley and Tyrone Marshall have been deemed unavailable to play because of club restrictions.
"We knew that we would only have them for one game so we made sure to drive home the advantage," said Downswell in response to questions about the players' absence.
In the place of Tyrone Marshall, another Tyrone of the Sawyers variety will get a place in the squad along with Waterhouse's Desmond Breakenridge.
Khari Stephenson is expected to slip back into his role at the centre of midfield with Daley's absence.
"The players will be out but I think we have good replacements for them. We have good players coming in to fill the gaps," Downswell told The Gleaner in response to the effect that the changes would have.
"No we are not worried about the missing players," he said.
Jamaica, in winning the first-leg, only have to avoid losing by five clear goals in order to advance to the final round of the Cup.
The second-leg game in French Guiana, will be played on Saturday.
The final round will be played in Barbados, who have been given a bye to the four team final stage. The top three teams from that final round will qualify for the 2005 Gold Cup.
