The Reggae Boyz are scheduled to depart at 7:35 p.m. later today for Hong Kong to participate in the Lunar New Year Cup, slated to run from Sunday, February 18 to Wednesday the 21st.

Twenty players, most of whom are in the under-23 age group, have been selected by technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic for the matches against Australia and China's Olympic (Under-23) teams, and a Hong Kong League XI.

Seven of the players are first-time selectees to the senior national squad.

They are Bull Bay defender Nicora Plummer, offensive player Donovan Davis of Portland team St. George's, former Godfrey Stewart schoolboy Dwayne Williams, a defender who represents Reno, Village United's central defender Jeff Pearce, Tivoli striker Horace Howell, Portmore United's midfielder/striker Mario Swaby and Allien Whittaker, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) goalie who strangely, has never been given a senior place despite earning a Best Goalkeeper Award as a youth representative five years ago.

The impetus on youth is specific to provide exposure for players who will form the core of the nation's 2008 Olympic qualification drive.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers - Richard McCallum, Allien Whittaker; Defenders - Xavian Virgo, Oneil Smith, Jermaine Taylor, Dwayne Williams, Jeff Pearce, Adrian Reid, Nicora Plummer, Mario Harrison; Midfielders - Nicholy Finlayson, Mario Swaby, Donald Stewart, Lovel Palmer, Demar Phillips; Forwards - Donavan Davis, Fabian Taylor, Horace Howell, Steven Morrissey, Kavin Bryan.

The officials are: Linnel McLean (head of delegation), Velibor Milutinovic (technical director), Wendell Downswell (coach), Howard Bell (manager), Mark Sanderson (doctor).