JAMAICA'S UNDER-20 football squad left the island last night with high hopes of restoring pride to the country and qualify for the 2005 Under-20 FIFA World Cup in the Netherlands from June 10 to July 2.
The young Reggae Boyz will stop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for one week, where they will play two practice games against a Haiti Under-23 team and a select Jamaican Under-20 team based in the Miami area, before trekking across to Honduras for the four-team playoff.
The young Reggae Boyz will be competing against Mexico, Honduras and Canada in the CONCACAF Final Round Group B qualification at the Estadio Franciso Morazan in San Pedro, Sula from January 26-30, from which two teams will qualify.
The players were feted and given motivational speeches at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters in New Kingston, and the three sponsors Life of Jamaica (LoJ), United General Insurance (UGI) and Supreme Ventures handed over cheques valued at $750,000, $500,000 and $1.2 million respectively.
HIGH EXPECTATION
Head coach Wendell Downs-well has high expectation of what is considered the best crop of Under-20 players the country has seen for a while.
"I have every confidence in this bunch of players. The preparation might not have been ideal, but the good thing is that there is harmony, discipline and unity among the players," Downswell said.
"They have lived together, trained together and that's why I am having so much hope for this team," he said.
For the first time, a Jamaican team has also been put through mental preparation by four people who worked on the minds of the youngsters. Dr Kai Morgan, a psychologist; Jerry Bentley, drama therapist; Dr Wendell Abel, psychiatrist and Eulalee Thomp-son, a counsellor, are part of the Performance Enhancement Team.
TO DEVELOP PLAYERS
"We all should know that the mental and psychological aspect of the game is even more important than the physical aspect. As a result of that, we are here to develop that aspect of players," said Morgan.
The programme outlines group and individual levels. At the group level, the players are taught about setting goals, how to focus and flow, which is to basically achieve optimal performance. It also teaches the players techniques in concentration, breathing and relaxation, plus team building, with emphasis on team spirit and patriotism.
Jamaica earned a berth into the CONCACAF final round after claiming Caribbean Union Football Group B with wins over Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda and St. Lucia and then eliminating Haiti in a two-game second-round series.
The U.S. and Panama have already qualified after finishing first and second in the Group A qualifiers, held in California, U.S., between January 12-16.
The 18-man squad is: Ralston Robinson (Constant Spring); captain Jermaine Taylor, Akeem Priestly, Luton Shelton and Ryan Thompson (Harbour View); Steven Morrissey (Glenmuir and Portmore United); Richard West and Adrian Reid (Waterhouse); Dwayne Kerr (Manning High and Reno); Marion Harrison and Nicholoy Finlayson (Reno); Seon Givens (Arnett Gardens); Horace Howell (Tivoli); Rudolph Austin, Kieron Bernard (Portmore); Keneil Moodie (Arlington); Jermaine Hollis (Kidderminister Harriers, English League Two); Obrian White (based in Canada). Goalkeeper Ryan Thompson's fate is waiting on a fitness test.
