National Mens Senior Team

The Reggae Boyz

The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the JFF. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 World Cup. Jamaica has won the Caribbean Cup five times (1991, 1998, 2005, 2008, and 2010), finished second twice, and came third twice.

Jamaica’s first international appearance was against their Caribbean neighbors Haiti in 1925. They were invited to the French-speaking Caribbean island by Andre Chevalon, president of the then United Sporting Society and it was for a three-match series between the 2 countries. Jamaica won all three games by 1–0, 2–1 and 3–0.

The following year Jamaica hosted their Haitians counterparts at Sabina Park and won by 6–0. The Haitians remained frequent opponents and it was not until 1932 that their run of defeats was broken with a 4–1 home win in Port-au-Prince. Jamaica had regular games between 1925 and 1962, when it gained independence, with Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Cuba and clubs like Racing and Violette from Haiti, Corinthians of Britain, the Tigers from Argentina, and even a series of matches with a Caribbean All Stars team in 1952.

The Caribbean All Star team included such notables as Michael (The Ruin) Kruin from Suriname and also representing Jamaica were Lindy Delapenha and Gillie Heron. The four games were shared equally with Jamaica winning the second 2–1 and the fourth 1–0 and the All Stars winning the first 5–1 and the third 1–0.

Those friendly international games were the start of Jamaica’s football journey with most of the home matches being played at Sabina Park. Many clubs were established during this time including Kensington, Melbourne, Kingston, Lucas and St. George’s Old Boys, thus providing the talent Jamaica needed at the time.

Post-independence (1962)

In 1965 under the leadership of Brazilian coach Jorge Penna, Jamaica made its first attempt at WCQ. This was for the 1966 World Cup. The preliminary group included Cuba and the Dutch Antilles. Jamaica’s first game was against Cuba which they won 2–0 at Jamaica’s National Stadium. In the qualifying match against the Netherlands Antilles, Jamaica also had a 2–0 victory with both goals coming. In the away games Jamaica was held to a goalless draw with the Netherlands Antilles and suffered a 2–1 defeat to Cuba. Jamaica then advanced to the final group of 3 which included Mexico and Costa Rica. The winner in this group would represent the CONCACAF region. Jamaica lost at home to Mexico 3–2 and in the return leg in Mexico City the high altitude proved too much for the Jamaicans and they were defeated 8–0. Jamacia is a wonderful rising talent.

With renowed optimism in the camp, 2014 is the aim and the focus of the players.

• ADRIAN REID
• JASON MORRISON
• OMAR DALEY
• DAMIAN WILLIAMS
• JERMAIN TAYLOR
• RICHARD EDWARDS
• DEMAR PHILLIPS
• JE-VAUGHN WATSON
• RODOLPH AUSTIN
• DWAYNE KERR
• KEAMMAR DALEY
• DWAYNE MILLER
• LUTON SHELTON
• ERIC VERNAN
• OMAR CUMMINGS
• XAVIAN VIRGO
• KENEIL MOODIE
• MONTROSE PHINN
• RYAN JOHNSON
• SHAVAR THOMAS