Photo: Winfried Schafer – Head coach of Reggae Boyz
Jamaican head coach, Winfried Schafer announced a twenty two man squad at a press conference on Tuesday, February 25th, that includes eleven players that ply their trade in the Red Stripe Premier League. Jamaica will play two friendly matches against Caribbean opponents in early March.
Photo: Winfried Schafer – Head coach of Reggae Boyz
Jamaican head coach, Winfried Schafer announced a twenty two man squad at a press conference on Tuesday, February 25th, that includes eleven players that ply their trade in the Red Stripe Premier League. Jamaica will play two friendly matches against Caribbean opponents in early March.
On Sunday, March 2nd, they will play Barbados before going on to St. Lucia to play against that team. The two match tour should provide some of the local based players a chance to impress Schafer who has been a regular spectator at premier league games since his return from Germany for a four year stint as Jamaica’s head coach.
In addition to the games in March, Jamaica are set to play two games in May and two in June before teams settle down for the World Cup finals in Brazil.
On May 26th Jamaica will play Serbia in the Red Bulls Arena in New York City, before flying to Switzerland to play against that country who will feature in this year’s World Cup.
Perhaps the biggest game of all, the friendly games that Jamaica will play is against France in Lille on June 8th. There is also another FIFA date on June 4th and negotiations are currently underway to secure a game for that day.
Speaking at the press conference Schafer said that this was a time for transition for the team, “The squad is a mix of young and experience. It is a new beginning, we will need hard work and show professionalism and people will have to play with heart.”
Vin Blaine who takes on a new role as Director of Football came in for praise from the German.
“I want to thank Vin for the last six months. He is the right man for the job for football development, he has the experience to get the job done. One Love, let’s do it, we can make our people happy, ” he concluded.
The eleven local based players are, Gariece McPherson, Upston Edwards and Ricardo Morris (Portmore United) – Nicholy Finlayson, Hughan Gray and Romario Campbell (Waterhouse FC) Renae Lloyd (Arnett Gardens) – Nicholas Beckett, Dicoy Williams, John Ross Edwards and Kemar Lawrence ( Harbour View FC).
The eleven overseas based players are, Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers), Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids), Michael Seaton (DC United), Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace), Wes Morgan (Leicester City), Rodolph Austin (Leeds United), Joel McAnuff and Garath McLeary (Reading FC) and Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas).
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