Pratley must be gutted at his injury, not just because he was playing so well, but missing out on his international debut and playing against his former club in the same week can't have been great for him. Just had a quick look at the midfielders from your last squad, and Pratters will definitely add something to your side. He's got tremendous enegry and work rate, loves to tackle as well. This season he's been utilized in a more attacking role and in fairness he's done extremely well there. I'd say we miss him but our manager is a genius, our best players get injured and he just picks up a reserve, plonks him in the team and we're just as good. I assume your next games are March 28th and April 1st? That'll probably come a little too soon for him.
Orgill strike gives Young Boyz 1-0 booster A 43rd minute strike by Devor Orgill gave the Young Boyz (U20) a 1-0 win over Mexico at the Ferdie Park in Portmore last night. They were largely outplayed by the visitors in the first half, but Orgill scored a beauty to lift their spirits as they entered the second half. He received a pass at the edge of the box, turned and beat two defenders before driving the ball into the far corner. In the second stanza the Jamaicans were much faster to the ball and never allowed the slick passing Central Americans space or time to play.It was a much more encouraging performance than those witnissed last week against Costa Rica. In the first game against Costa Rica, the Boyz played out a 0-0 tie at Arnett Gardens in a competitive encounter. In the second game played at Brancourt in Clarendon on Saturday, the visitors won 1-0.
Steven Morrissey for La Liga? Thursday, February 19, 2009 Portmore United's ace striker, Steven Morrissey, may soon be heading off to Spain's La Liga, the Observer was reliably informed yesterday. Portmore United's goalscorer Steven Morrissey (left) tries to get the better of Dameon Benjamin of Boys' Town during their DPL end-of-round final at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex Sunday. Portmore won 2-1. (Photo: Joseph Wellington) When reached last evening, Portmore's chairman Wayne Sinclair confirmed discussions were ongoing with a club in the top Spanish division, but refused to name it. However, Sinclair disclosed that the offer from the Spanish club to Portmore for the stocky frontman was in excess of euro500,000. "We're in very sensitive negotiations and it would not be prudent at this time to divulge any further information until an agreement is reached between the two clubs," Sinclair said. Twenty-two-year-old Morrissey - a national player at the Under-17, Under-20, Under-23 and senior-levels - has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, including a blinder in the second end-of-round final of the Digicel Premier League against Boys' Town at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex last Sunday which Portmore won 2-1. The Observer has also learnt that a top Division One club, Sogndal of Norway, has made a formal offer for Morrissey's signature after scouts saw him in action on Sunday. Morrissey, a former Glenmuir High School star, was delighted by the recent surge in interest and is hoping for the best. "I'm very excited about these opportunities as it's my ambition to play in Europe and I'm hoping that by next Tuesday I could be on my way to one of these clubs," he said yesterday
Boyz tackle US in big U-20 Qualifier Howard Walker, in Trinidad & Tobago Friday, March 06, 2009 Black Rock, Tobago - A confident Jamaica National Under-20 team tackles the United States of America (USA) in their opening Group A game of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying tournament at the Dwight Yorke Stadium at 6:00 pm (Jamaican time) today. In the other group match, Central American teams El Salvador and Honduras will battle at 4:00 pm in the competition's first game. The U-20 Reggae Boyz going through their final paces at the Dwight Yorke Stadium yesterday in preparation for their crucial game against the USA today. Jamaica, fresh from a series of good practice results, enter today's match full of confidence, but not overconfident, said head coach Donovan Duckie. "We are very confident because we trust the preparations. It has been good and we are playing good over the last 14 games or so. The opening game is always the most important game of any tournament. We have never lost an opening game in the previous tournaments that we have been to and we want to maintain that record," Duckie noted. He added: "We have seen what has happened to teams that have lost the opening games. What is important is a good start to the tournament. We need to win the game or don't lose it. That is the priority." According to Duckie, he prefers playing the US at this stage of the competition, rather than later. "It's very important to play the US first and get it out of the way because we wouldn't want to play them last in a deciding game. "We know that it will be a tough encounter. They are a good team, very organised with quality players in their system with a lot of speed. We also have a quality team and sometimes the most important thing is not to think too much about the opponent because we know what we are about. "We want to impose our style of play on the opponent and it should be an interesting game. The players are in good spirit and the morale is high and they want to do well," said Duckie. The USA will be without two star strikers in Freddy Adu of French team Monaco and Jozy Altidore from Villarreal (on loan to Xerez), but Duckie is not taking anything for granted. "A US team without Freddy Adu and Altidore is the same US team. They have an enormous amount of talent. The characteristics that they would find in those two players they will find in others," he explained. Meanwhile, US coach Thomas Rongen said while not having his strongest possible squad, he is expecting a good performance from his team and is expecting a tough game from the Jamaicans. Said Rongen: "We are not with two keys players that are with their respective clubs in Spain and France. But we have a squad here that hopefully can take care of business. Right now we have the best 20 players. "It is an important game for both teams. Any team that gets to the final must be a very good team. We expect a good game because I have seen the Jamaican team play three times now and know what they are capable of. "We are in for a tough match... and we just want to play as best as we can to get a result, from what we considered to be a very good opponent," said Rongen. The American team is evenly split between local and foreign-based players. Towering goalkeeper Shawn Johnson, who failed to make the Jamaican team twice, could be between the sticks. Anthony Wallace of FC Dallas and captain Bryan Arguez of German outfit Hertha Berlin will anchor their midfield, with FC Dallas forward Peri Marosevic expected to carry the goalscoring burden with Adu and Altidore out. Two years ago Jamaica, with several of these current players, defeated the USA 3-2 at the National Stadium at the Under-17 level and a repeat........................cont. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/spor..._OBS_BOYZ_TACKLE_US_IN_BIG_U____QUALIFIER.asp
now the under 20 world cup is over for us,so now we only got the GOLD CUP to look farward to,but after the gold cup is over what other compitions is coming up
Boyz face Panama in June 7 friendly at 'The Office' Thursday, April 16, 2009 After missing two FIFA-sanctioned dates in March and earlier this month, the action-starved Reggae Boyz will have a game on their plate on June 7. BURRELL... we want to make up for disappointment of World Cup The Jamaicans, who last played Nigeria in a friendly game on February 11 in London, will match skills with Central American rivals Panama at the National Stadium at 6:00 pm, JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell confirmed yesterday. "We'll be playing against a tough Panama team that Jamaica have not done well against in recent times. I believe this Panama team with their overseas-based players from Spain, South and Central America will test the character of the Boyz," Burrell said. In their last meeting in a friendly international at the National Stadium on March 26, 2007, Jamaica with Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic at the helm, drew 1-1 with the Central Americans. Burrell, the CONCACAF Executive Committee member and senior vice-president of the CFU, said all the top foreign-based Jamaican stars will be available for the showdown at 'The Office'. Among them are UK-based Ricardo Gardner (captain), Ricardo Fuller, Damion Stewart, Marlon King, Omar Daley, Jermaine Johnson, Ian Goodison, Claude Davis, Jamal Capbell-Ryce; Scandinavia-based Luton Shelton, Demar Phillips; US Major Leaguers Tyrone Marshall, Donovan Ricketts, Dane Richards, Omar Cummings and France pro Tyrone Mears, who debuted against Nigeria. "We hope to create an atmosphere inside the National Stadium similar to a World Cup qualifying match... we know that the fans have been starved of high quality football... and I believe this match-up will provide fireworks," said Burrell. Since their creditable 0-0 draw against the Super Eagles, the Boyz were inactive on the FIFA-sanctioned dates of March 28 and April 1. The JFF was in fact in advanced negotiations for a match against Oman in Muscat on March 28, but the Gulf state opted late to play South Africa. The JFF has been finding it difficult to woo quality teams as their efforts are being thwarted by their FIFA ranking of 70th and the team's elimination from the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament. "It's not easy to get worthy opponents now as they are engaged in World Cup qualifiers and... are playing those games on FIFA calendar dates, plus we're not attractive to them because we're not in the World Cup mix," Burrell said from the USA where he is attending CONCACAF meetings. Burrell, who has spent much of the past three weeks fending of media flurries over the Boyz's failure to capitalise on the aforementioned FIFA dates and the Under-20s' inglorious exit from the World Cup qualifiers, said he and his team are trying to get in at least one more game before the Gold Cup. "We're aggressively looking to have at least another game overseas before the Gold Cup because we want to give our team the best preparation going into the championship... we want to do well to make up for the disappointment of the World Cup," noted Burrell, who is in his second stint as the island's football boss. Jamaica and Panama (ranked 60th) were both eliminated from the World Cup qualifying campaign at the semi-final stage and will now look to redeem themselves at the CONCACAF Gold Cup from July 3-26. Both teams will be using the game to fine-tune for CONCACAF's flagship tournament to be staged in an unprecedented 13 US cities, plus it will be a clash between Digicel regional champions. Jamaica copped the Digicel Champions Cup, the 'Holy Grail' of Caribbean football, while Panama outclassed all others, including Costa Rica and Honduras, for the Digicel Central American Championship. Jamaica will compete in Group A of the Gold Cup with Canada, Costa Rica and El Salvador, while Panama contest Group C along with Guadeloupe, Mexico, Nicaragua. Group B will see USA, Honduras, Haiti and Grenada doing battle
hello from panama.. is this official?? I've seen it on Fifa.com and now this Burrell interview, but our federation has not said anything yet about this friendly. hmmmmmmmmm
Boyz vs. Haiti for May 23 friendly in US Sean Williams Friday, April 17, 2009 The Reggae Boyz will tackle Caribbean rivals Haiti in a friendly international in Fort Lauderdale, USA, on Saturday, May 23, it was announced yesterday. JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell made the disclosure at the Sherwin Williams Women's Football Awards Presentation at the Federation's New Kingston offices a day after confirming a home game for the senior team against Panama on June 7. "The senior Reggae boyz team will play against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale and we expect it to be a massive game because the people of Haiti will be celebrating a special holiday period (Compas Month)," Burrell said. Organiser of the game, Jeremy Mullings, said he expects a large crowd for the game as the USA will be celebrating Memorial Weekend which falls in line with the May month of celebrations for south Florida's Haitians. This is also a time when the rest of the Caribbean Diaspora swings into party mode. "We are hoping for a sell-out crowd at Lockhart Stadium with all that will be happening on that weekend, and we are getting a good vibe about the event already... and as you know whenever Jamaica play Haiti, it brings out the best in both," said Mullings from Florida yesterday. Jamaica may not have their strongest team for the encounter as the game will not be played on a FIFA-sanctioned date, but Burrell promised that "we will have all our available overseas-based players". The CONCACAF Executive Committee member noted that the match provides an opportunity "for the best local players in the Premier League" to perform for coach John Barnes and his team. Burrell and his team have been finding it difficult to get top-class opposition for the Reggae Boyz - their efforts thwarthed by the team's 70th placing on the FIFA standings and elimination from the World Cup qualifying race. "It's not easy to get worthy opponents now as they're engaged in World Cup qualifiers and... are playing those games on FIFA calendar dates, plus we're not attractive to them because we're not in the World Cup mix," Burrell said on Wednesday in announcing the Panama contest. The Burrell administration was busy these past weeks deflecting media flak for the Boyz's inactivity on the last two FIFA calendar dates of March 28 and April 1. For the March date, the JFF was in fact in advanced negotiations for a match against Oman in Muscat, but the Gulf state decided late to play South Africa instead. The senior team's last friendly international was played on the first FIFA date of the year, February 11 in London, when they played to an entertaining 0-0 tie with Nigeria's Super Eagles. The matches between Haiti and Panama will provide the Reggae Boyz with their final tune-up ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup which runs from July 3-26 in 13 US cities. Haiti, like Jamaica, are out of World Cup contention but will join their Caribbean neighbours in the Gold Cup. Ranked a modest 119 by FIFA, Haiti will contest Group B alongside the USA, Honduras and Digicel Caribbean Championships runners-up Grenada. Jamaica, who won the regional championships, will compete in Group A alongside Canada, Costa Rica and El Salvador, while Panama contest Group C with Guadeloupe, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Following a dry spell, friendly international games have begun to rain on the Reggae Boyz, with the last downpour being a match-up against El Salvador on May 30 at the RFK Stadium in Washington, USA. http://www.thereggaeboyz.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/127975/page/1#Post127975
Whitmore replaces Barnes as Boyz head coach Howard Walker Monday, June 08, 2009 A disappointed John Barnes has been replaced by Theodore Whitmore as head coach after his seven-month contract was not renewed by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), it was announced after Jamaica's 3-2 win over Panama at the National Stadium last night. Reggae Boy coach John Barnes (left) congratulates Keammar Daley after the latter scored Jamaica's winning goal against Panama in their friendly international at the National Stadium last night. Jamaica won 3-2. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) Barnes, 45, who took over the coaching reins on November 1, 2008, will instead be moving on to English League One outfit Tranmere Rovers. His contract with Tranmere will start in July and Barnes was visibly upset that his contract with the Jamaica Football Federation wasn't extended to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Said Barnes: "Yes, I am disappointed that I would not be going to the Gold Cup because I could have started the contract (with Tranmere) after the Gold Cup." "But I fully accept and understand the JFF decision that they will appoint Theodore, as of now, to give him a chance to experience football at the highest level........................cont>http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/spor...ITMORE_REPLACES_BARNES_AS_BOYZ_HEAD_COACH.asp
Fanfare heralds Boyz's arrival in South Africa Sean Williams with the Reggae Boyz in Bloemfontein, South Africa Sunday, November 15, 2009 BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - The Reggae Boyz arrived here on Friday after an excruciating two-day journey from Kingston to fanfare and pageantry. As the team bus pulled into the Southern Sun hotel in Mangaung here, a large Jamaica flag emblazoned across the front of the property at first glance symbolised the heart-warming welcome. Bloemfontein, South Africa - South African dancers, Vuka Dance Production, put on a traditional African dance and song routine for the Reggae Boyz (background) on their arrival at their hotel on Friday. (Photo: Sean Williams) But it would get better. In front of the hotel located at the corner of Nelson Mandela Drive and Melville Avenue, a traditional African dance and song rendition was in full flight. Captivated by the haunting but pulsating drumming that accompanied the gyrations of the Vuka Dance Productions members, a number of the weary Jamaicans involuntarily moved to the infectious beat. On hand to welcome the group after the one-hour flight to the nation's commercial capital, Johannesburg, were deputy mayor of Mangaung, coincilwoman SK Chaene and CEO of the Mangaung/Bloemfontein Organising Committee of World Cup 2010, George Mohlakoana. The Reggae Boyz, ranked No 69 by FIFA, are here for their friendly fixture..................................cont.@ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/spor...RE_HERALDS_BOYZ_S_ARRIVAL_IN_SOUTH_AFRICA.asp
yuh seeet, mi nuh know when the JFF ah guh si sey in order fi mek the world cup the team needs plenty of matches fi have create team chemistry. yuh notice sey team did start fi round inna shape wid 3 games left inna the WCQ semifinals.
Exactly! Is a shame wi couldn't even nick a single point offa Mexico or Honduras inna di away legs...or even better, wi shoulda collect 3 genst Canada. Ting still a bun mi. Hope dis a just di start of more matches, and hopefully more quality match. On a nex note...mi bex sey di likkle boy from West Ham (Zavon Hines), gaan go play fi England, instead a stickin wid wi
Im play fi Englan' at de senior level? mi neva know dat. Ah always tell people dat de worse ting dat happen to we was when we qualify in 98. Since wi qualify wi neva hit dem deh heights deh again. My opinion is dat if we did miss out 98, we would have had dat foundation to carry us a longer way in place but we hurry come up and accompish de ting too soon and cyan maintain de same level.
~sigh~ No...a two match him play fi dem U21 side last month...but look like him woulda radda play fi dem, dan wi
I doubt Hines will ever play for England's senior team. He is already a decent player with good potential but, unlike his teammate Carlton Cole who is one of the (if not the) best at what he does (getting the ball, holding it up, distrubuting it, as well as scoring), players like him (I'd argue his best attribute is his pace) are a dime a dozen in England and there are certainly better finishers than him and probably always will be. I don't want to take away from him because he is young and definitely does have lots of potential and already is capable of playing in the EPL, I just don't see him breaking into the England side any time in the near or distant future. If he improves under Zola's tutelage as much as Cole has then perhaps he could play for England and even play for them regularly. If I'm right, though, the question would be is Jamaica OK with being second fiddle and would they accept him? I'd assume yes, as well they should as Hines, unlike Tyrone Mears (and Jobi McAnuff, etc., etc.), does seem to care for Jamaica as well.
There's apparently going to be another Jamaica v South Africa match in Kingston on 10th April next year. Let's hope it isn't 0-0.... South Africa are going to South America to play Chile on 3rd March, then they will spend a month training in Brazil before going to Jamaica for the friendly match. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=19&art_id=vn20091121074431716C267751&set_id=
Boyz off to ‘flyer’ ..To face Canada in January 31 friendly BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor Friday, December 18, 2009 JAMAICA’S Reggae Boyz will kick off their 2014 World Cup campaign with a friendly international against Canada at the National Stadium on Sunday, January 31. Head honcho of Jamaica’s football, Captain Horace Burrell, said the match-up will significantly mark the official launch of the Boyz’s long journey in their attempt to repeat by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup to be staged in the South American nation of Brazil. “This will be the official launch of that campaign and we are urging all of Jamaica to come out and lend their full support,” Burrell said from Dubai, United Arab Emirates yesterday, where he is doing duties at the World Club Championships........cont.@http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Boyz-off-to-flyer
Argentina at last! BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor Tuesday, January 12, 2010 FINALLY, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will have their day against an Argentina outfit in a proposed away friendly international set for February 10, it was disclosed yesterday. Since his return to the presidency of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell has made numerous attempts to tie-up a game with the South American giants and two-time World Cup champions, but each time the..........cont.@http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/BOYZ-GAME_7321139
WICKED!!!!!!!! An mi waan si a much betta match den when we get kick up inna 98. I'm excited! Hope ting nuh bruk dung like last time though.
BOYZ WIN - Kickstart 2014 campaign with win over Canada By Ian Burnett Sport Editor Monday, February 01, 2010 Jamaica's Reggae Boyz launched their 2014 Brazil World Cup campaign on a winning note when a Luton Shelton 68th minute strike condemned Canada to a 1-0 defeat in front of a partisan crowd inside the National Stadium last night. Jamaica’s Navion Boyd takes flight to avoid a collison with Canada goalkeeper David Monslave (on ground), while teammate Dejan Jankovic gets out of the way during their friendly international at the National Stadium last night. Jamaica won 1-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) Jamaica’s Luton Shelton (left) celebrates his goal against Canada during a friendly international at the National Stadium last night. Jamaica won 1-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) Jamaica’s Navion Boyd takes flight to avoid a collison with Canada goalkeeper David Monslave (on ground), while teammate Dejan Jankovic gets out of the way during their friendly international at the National Stadium last night. Jamaica won 1-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) 1/2 The victory was Jamaica's fourth against the North Americans in 17 games and for the third time Shelton was getting on the scoresheet. He was a goalscorer when Jamaican won 2-1 on October 8 in a friendly international here at the same venue and he was also on target when Jamaica whipped the Maple Leaf boys 3-0 in a World Cup qualifying game on November 19, 2008. The Jamaicans were off to a decent start, throwing numbers in attack and pinning their opponents on the defensive. In the third minute Rodolph Austin burst through from midfield on the left flank and whipped in a low cross, but a charging Demar Phillips just failed to get there ahead of a retreating defender, as Devon Hodges waited to pounce on any scraps. Shortly after Phillips, who displayed his usual high levels of energy, played through Luton Shelton on the left side, but the speedy striker raced into the box then dallied before squandering the chance, despite having a number of teammates in support. On 18 minutes Jamaica, who had looked the better team, moved the ball sumptuously from side to side before picking out the roving Phillips, who had switched to the right. He relayed a pass to Hodges inside the penalty area, but after the burly Rivoli United striker turned his marker expertly, he went for glory and blasted the ball high over the frame from an acute angle, instead of feeding any one of a number of teammates better placed in front of the goal. The North Americans slowly worked themselves back into the game, and at the half way stage Dwayne Miller, who had been a spectator by then, had to dive to his right to parry a fierce low drive from a Massih Wassey free-kick from 30 yards. And outside of punching away a few clearances from corner kicks, he was generally unwanted in the first half. But on 36 minutes, Shelton ignited the crowd with an electrifying bit of skill. He collected a pass on the right flank 15 yards inside the Canadians' half, cut delicately, but decisively through the centre of the red-and-white clad Canadians, leaving them in his wake. But upon entering the penalty box and with only goalkeeper David Monslave to beat, he undid all the wonderful work by slotting the ball onto the body of the charging custodian, much to the chagrin of the partisan crowd. The second half started in much the way of the first with Jamaica having the lion's share of possession and Canada trying to hit on the counter. Early on de Julian de Guzman blasted a left-footer high over the top when an ineffective Eric Vernan lost possession just outside the penalty area, but the next play of significance belonged to the home team. The ever-willing Omar Cummings was dispossessed a few metres inside the Canadians' half, but displayed resilience by regaining possession from a.........cont.@http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/BEENIE-S-REPORT_7378479