Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

TIVOLI Gardens two-goal hero at Boys' Town on Sunday, Navion Boyd, is using his performance as inspiration to earn another Jamaica recall, as he seeks to become a member of the Reggae Boyz squad for December's Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals, and even the World Cup.

"I'm looking forward to the Digicel Cup squad for next month. If I make it that would be a very good achievement for me ... and it doesn't stop there," said the skilful and speedy forward whose second-half conversions gave his team an important 2-1 win.

He added: "I'm trying my best to see if I can get overseas and make myself better and to be there if Jamaica make it to the World Cup. But all that depends on Wednesday."

Tomorrow, Jamaica will play Canada in a decisive CONCACAF semi-final round World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.

Decisive contribution

On Sunday last, his contribution proved decisive in launching Tivoli Gardens into the end-of-first-round final against Harbour View, which will be played at the same National Stadium this Sunday.

"I feel very good to have scored the two goals for my team to get into the end-of-round final," said Boyd. "It was very good for me going into the end-of-round final."

He added: "It all started from last night. I was very focused going to bed and it came over into the game today."

Boyd and several other top Tivoli Gardens players were not included in the squad at the start of the season, a penalty for missing pre-season training while they earned money playing football in the United States during the off-season.

"I feel great," said Boyd of his contribution since readmission to Tivoli's team. "The coach said to us because we were away so long we had to do our pre-season training now."

Good performance

"Very, very good performance," was how his coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr, described the contribution of Boyd, who represented Wolmer's in the Manning Cup up to two seasons ago.

"He's a very good striker. I like the progression he's making. The sky's the limit for this youngster and there are a lot of opportunities out there. I'm just trying to guide him in the right direction," pointed out Hyde, a former national midfielder who is also the national Under-20 team's coach.

Commenting on his team's advance to Sunday's final, Hyde said: "I feel good for the players, I think they deserve it."

Boys' Town controlled the first half but muffed several wide-open chances, then Tivoli took over the game at the half.

In specific reference to their final opponents, Hyde said: "We lost 1-0 to them in the first match. It's a good matchup."

Boys' Town's coach, Andrew Price, naturally, was disappointed.

"We got numerous chances in the first half and it came back to haunt us.

"Tivoli played better than us in the second half. I wish them all the best in the end-of-round final."