Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Simoes

Jamaica's local Reggae Boyz skipped the final training session of an expected week-long training as national technical director Rene Simoes had seen enough.

In addition to that, with another round of the Premier League scheduled for tomorrow and the extensive drills throughout the week, the Brazilian opted to give the troops a rest day.

However, while the final nine have now been selected, an official announcement of a 23-man squad will not be made until Monday.

The local Boyz, who were expected to complete the stint at Arnett Gardens' Tony Spaulding Sports Complex early yesterday morning, left a few fans who mulled around the ground disappointed as they did not show up for the engagement.

"I have been very impressed with quality from players all week long and so I have (a) good idea and we had intensive training throughout the week," explained Simoes. "Also, the players will have Premier League matches over (the) weekend and so, for the benefit of the clubs, I decide to give them rest. Players, after all, belong to their clubs."

The 24-member local contingent began with a training session at the Barbican field on Monday, moved to St George's College on Tuesday, before back-to-back training sessions at the National Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.

In fact, the final nine who will be joining the 14 overseas-based players, have already been selected but that information will not officially be released to the public until Monday, when the Jamaica Football Federation host a press conference at the Jamaica Money Market Brokers' head office in New Kingston.

"It's no problem. I already have players I will submit to (the) administration later today, but they will not release (it) until Monday," he said. "That looks a part of (the) marketing strategy and I would not come between them and that."