Two years in charge at Jamaica College has seen coach Miguel Coley win back to back Manning Cup titles, but a true test of his credentials will come on Friday when he leads Jamaica into battle against Panama, as World Cup semifinals qualification begins at the National Stadium.
The head coach of Jamaica, Winfried Schafer is facing a one match suspension, and will watch from the stands, as the Boyz go to work at the office.
The beginning of this section of the campaign, will see Jamaica (61) ranked four places above Panama (65) in the FIFA rankings.
The assistant coach, who has had success at schoolboy football and club levels will be hoping that his fortunes transcend to the national team.
As the teams face-off for their crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier, things couldn’t be starker. Coley will be hoping to create history, by securing the country’s first World Cup qualifier and second overall win, against the Central Americans.
Both teams go into today’s match following defeat in their last encounter, respectively. Panama was beaten 2-1 by Trinidad and Tobago, while the Reggae Boyz lost 3-0 to South Korea.
Although having the backing of the Jamaica Football Federation and the blessing for the moment, Coley knows that failure to win this match would further dampen the interest of the local fans in future home games, as their last showing, at the stadium left the masses disappointed.
The mood within the Jamaican camp is reportedly one of great optimism with lots of hope of a victory tonight.
USA’s Major League star and inform striker Darren Mattocks, while speaking to local media, expressed that the team is using the energy in the camp and the joy of being at home, as motivational tools to put in the extra effort.
In their previous encounter at the office, the game ended in a goalless stalemate.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup runners up 2015, Reggae Boyz, have qualified for one previous World Cup, while the Panamanians has never qualified for the football show piece.
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