DOWNSWELL
KINGSTON (CMC):
JAMAICA coach Wendell Downswell has his squad on guard for tough challenges as they head to Suriname for Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Group 5 play in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifiers this week.
Jamaica, the highest ranked nation in Caribbean football, will face hosts Suriname and the Dominican Republic for a single spot from Group Five available to the CAC Games in Colombia this summer, and especially after the shock exit this week of the other regional football powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago, Downswell is bracing himself for strong opposition in Suriname.
"We have to be up and running because if you look at these (other) countries, they are really placing emphasis on their youth development, so therefore the fact that we are doing that just now also and we see ourselves as the superior country, our intention is to justify that," Downswell told CMC Sport as he prepared to travel yesterday. The series opened yesterday with Suriname facing the Dominican Republic.
Jamaica will tackle the Dominican Republic tomorrow before playing the hosts two days later on Sunday.
Downswell boasts a strong and experienced roster and expects to do well although they will be missing Sweden-based prolific striker Luton Shelton, who is injured.
"We are quite upbeat going to Suriname despite the fact that we don't ]\have Luton Shelton, who is injured now and is with his club rehabilitating. We have players who have been active in the (local) National Premier League and a number of them, who have participated on the national senior team," Downswell said.
PREPARATION GOOD
"The preparation has been good ... so overall we are very pleased going into this tournament. Our intention is to qualify for the CAC Games," he added.
Haiti, who whipped favourites T&T 3-1 on Tuesday to top Group Two, and Group Three winners Netherlands Antilles, have already secured their places to the CAC Games in Colombia.
In the other qualifiers, Aruba, Puerto Rico and hosts Barbados will contest Group One from April 16-20, and Cuba will be at home April 12-16 to Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Group Four. The five CFU group winners will advance with four qualifiers from the Central American Zone, Mexico, Venezuela and the hosts Colombia to compete at the CAC Games from July 16-29 in Cartagena.
Jamaica squad: Ralston Robinson, Duwayne Kerr, Jermaine Taylor, Nicholy Finlayson, Adrian Reid, Keneil Moodie, Shaun Francis, Mario Harrison, Omroy Wilson, Jermaine Hollis, Nathan Koo-Boothe, Rafe Wolfe, Obrian White, Akeem Priestly, Richard West, Horace Howell, Steven Morrissey and Carnell Leamond.
