Jamaica National Under-20 men’s team kicked preparations into high gear ahead of the first-round Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Qualifiers with a comfortable 4-1 beating of a St. Ann All-star team in a practice game at Drax Hall over the weekend.
Assistant Coach & HVFC international Altimont Butler said Saturday’s encounter was important for the coaching staff, headed by another HVFC international & former national captain Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner, to scrutinize a number of players.
Though pleased with the outcome and the approach of the players, Butler believes the team’s engine is still some distance away from hitting full throttle.
“The game assisted us to look at a few players for the first time in a game situation and it was interesting to see what some of the new players who came in had to offer. The team played well and the speed of play and their concentration level was up, which is a positive going forward.
“But we are pretty much just trying to get them to know the game within the game, so we are just about making some headway. We are just trying to show them how to function and stay structured as a team for now, and also trying to improve on their fitness significantly,” Butler told the Jamaica Observer.
Even though the preparation phase was initiated in January, the former national midfielder declared that they are yet to perform significant tactical work during the weekly three-day camps at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Training Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus.
With the qualifiers scheduled for June 15-19 in the Dominican Republic only a few weeks away, Butler pointed out that they intend to make extensive progress in the coming weeks.
The young Reggae Boyz are drawn in Group Four alongside the host nation, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis.
“We only see the boys on the weekend, so even though we might put the work in, when we come back at the end of the next week, we still have to go back. Going back sometimes work for us, because they go back into their clubs and return with the bad habits, but it mostly works against us in regards to our preparation time,” he explained.
“But we will be doing some intensive tactical work in the coming weeks ahead of the tournament. We have seen quite a few talents that are very interesting and we are hoping that they will grow into the game and make us proud,” added Butler.
Last weekend’s 28-man training squad included three players playing in the United States. Players from English-based clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are also to be scouted before the naming of the provisional 30-man squad.
“It is very good to know that these overseas players are showing interest, but one of our aim and goal is to expose our local-based players. But everything is going well, the boys are putting in the work, we still have a few players missing and we have a few players who contacted us during the week, so we are still looking,” Butler noted.
Squad
- Akeem Prawl (St Georges College)
- Gregory Messam (St Georges College)
- Ajeanie Talbot (J.C.)
- Maliek Howell (J.c.)
- Tyreek Mcgee (J.c./ Harbour View FC)
- Sheldon Mckoy (Harbour View FC)
- Ahmard Duncombe (Harbour View FC)
- Stephen Barnett (Harbour View FC)
- Javain Brown (K.C.)
- Jahwahni Hinds (Wolmers Boys)
- Fabian Grant (Camperdown High School/Harbour View FC)
- Shamar Nicholson (Boys Town FC)
- Luca Levee (Overseas Based)
- Lee Nicholson (Overseas Based)
- Christopher Grey (Overseas Based)
- Akeem Chambers (St Jago High School)
- Nicholas Nelson (Hydel High School)
- Ajay Higgins (Frasers Whip FC)
- George Brown (Dinthill Tech High School)
- Kimmani Campbell (Dinthill Tech High School)
- Rodave Murray (Dinthill Tech High School)
- Deshane Beckford (Ruseas High School)
- Peter Lee Vassell (Cornwall College)
- Jourdain Fletcher (Cornwall College)
- Nicholas King (Manchester High School)
- Kevon Lambert (Glenmuir High School)
- Siegel Knight (Clarendon College)
- Fitzroy Cummings (Lennon High School)
Sources: The Jamaica Observer, Jamaica Football Federation