A squad of 22 players was named by technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic yesterday to commence training for the 2007 Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong, February 18-21.

The training squad, which includes 16 under-23 players and six senior players, started training at the G.C. Foster College yester-day and will continue tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day.

In a press release from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), the announcement comes after Bora's recent scouting visits and coaching clinics with the nation's four football confederations.

PREPARATIONS

Apart from the Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong, the preparation is geared towards the Pan-American Games in Brazil in July 2007 and the 2008 Olympic Games in China. The Lunar New Year Cup will also feature Australia, China and hosts Hong Kong.

The squad includes some new names while a couple of senior players will get another chance at the national level.

Newcomers include the impressive left back Mardio Simpson and Marcelino Blackburn of Arnett Gardens, Nicora Plummer (Bull Bay), Bryan Bayliss (Portmore), tricky forward Kavin Bryan (Harbour View), Donovan Davis (St. George's FC) and Andre Lawson (Star Cosmos).

Harbour View's veteran player Donald Stewart and Lovel Palmer both got recalls along with Jeff Pearce (Village), Reno players Mario Harrison and Nicholy Finlayson along with Keneil Moodie of Seba.

Goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers was omitted as the new technical director named the Waterhouse pair of Richard McCullum and Ralston Robinson, along with Allien Whittaker of the JDF. Reno's young goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr, who was drafted into the national team for the England game last year, was not included.

SQUAD

The squad is: Goalkeepers - Richard McCallum (Waterhouse), Ralston Robinson (Waterhouse), Allien Whittaker (JDF); Defenders - Xavian Virgo (Boys' Town), Oneil Smith (Harbour View), Jermaine Taylor (Harbour View), Mardio Simpson (Arnett Gardens), Jeff Pearce (Village United), Adrian Reid (Portmore), Nicora Plummer (Bull Bay), Mario Harrison (Reno), Keneil Moodie (Reno); Midfielders - Nicholy Finlayson (Reno), Donald Stewart (Harbour View), Lovel Palmer (Harbour View), Bryan Bayliss (Portmore); Forwards - Donovan Davis (St. George's FC), Andre Lawson (Star Cosmos), Horace Howell (Tivoli Gardens), Steven Morrissey (Portmore), Marcelino Blackburn (Arnett), Kavin Bryan (Harbour View).