|
January 23rd,
2010
When the
Reggae Boyz run out against Canada on Sunday January 31 at the
National Stadium, there could be seven unfamiliar faces among
them.
Named in the squad of 28 to
resume camp on Monday January 25, were four schoolboys, two
recruits from the Digicel Premier League DPL) and one US Major
League Soccer (MLS) representative. The schoolboys are three
midfielders in St Georges College livewire Marvin Morgan,
Manchester High School Standout Jason Johnson and St James High
School midfield architect Ricardo Morris. Goalkeeper Andre Blake
of Glenmuir High School is the final schoolboy in the squad.
In the last two camps a total of
11 schoolboys were invited under what was described by head coach
Theodore Whitmore as rotational policy in which a number of the
outstanding schoolboy would be invited to each camp. For him the
above four are the most ready.
Besides the schoolboys, the other
‘newcomer’, who most catches the eye, is the 25-year-old
midfielder Ryan Johnson who plays for the Sana Jose Earthquakes in
the MLS. Johnson, who was born in Jamaica but moved to the United
States at an early age earned one cap for the Reggae Boyz in 2006
against the United States in Cary North Carolina in a game which
ended 1-1.
Over the past two seasons and in
particular 2009, the left-footed Johnson has stood out for his
club being named MVP and leading scorer on the team with 11 goals
and two assists. He was also number nine on the top 10 list of the
leading goal scorers for the MLS season.
The midfield duo of Andre Steele
(Harbour View) and Kenardo Forbes of Waterhouse after outstanding
seasons for their clubs have been retained to battle for the spot
of creative midfielder.
In addition to the newcomers, the
Reggae Boyz squad will see the return of defensive veteran Tyrone
Marshall who last represented the Reggae Boyz in the Gold Cup last
July. Rodolph Austin and Demar Phillips are also expected in the
Island later in the week to join up with the squad.
Already in the island are Shavar
Thomas, Omar Cummings, Jason Morrison, Rafe Wolfe and Luton
Shelton. They will join forces with the local-based Devon Hodges
who leads the DPL with 14 goals, the lively Navion Boyd of Tivoli
Gardens, Jermaine Taylor, Dicoy Williams and Adrian Reid.
Jamaica’s friendly international
against Canada on Sunday January 31, 2010 kicks off at 6:00pm and
will cost patrons $3,000.00 for Grandstand Category 1, $2,500.00
for Grandstand Category 2 and $1,000.00 for Bleachers.
Full squad :
Goalkeepers Dwayne
Miller (Harbour View), Duwayne Kerr (Portmore United), Andre
Blake (Glenmuir High, Sporting Central);
Defenders- Jermaine
Taylor St Georges SC), Shavar Thomas (Philadelphia Union),
Tyrone Marshall (Seattle Sounders) Dicoy Williams (Harbour
View), Adrian Reid (Portmore United), Rafe Wolfe (Ferencvaros),
Demar Stewart (Chengdu Blades, CHINA), Demar Phillips (Aalesunds
SK, NORWAY), Eric Vernan (Nybergsund IL, NORWAY) ;
Midfielders – Jason
Morrison (Ferencvaros), Richard Edwards (Harbour View), Je-Vaughn
Watson (Sporting Central), Kenardo Forbes (Waterhouse), Lovel
Palmer (Harbour View), Keammar Daley (Tivoli Gardens), Andre
Steele (Harbour View), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, NORWAY), Jason
Johnson (Manchester High School), Ricardo Morris (St James High,
Village United), Marvin Morgan (St Georges College) ;
Forwards – Omar Cummings
(Colorado Rapids), Luton Shelton (Valerenga, NORWAY), Devon
Hodges (Rivoli United),Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens) and Ryan
Johnson (San Jose Earthquakes).
|