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Reggae Boyz vs Soca Warriors Published: Sunday | November 3, 2013 0 Comments Paul Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer Western Bureau: Jamaica Football Fede-ration (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, yesterday announced that the Reggae Boyz will play two international friendly games on the two upcoming FIFA dates. The national senior team will take on the Soca Warriors of Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago in a two-match series. Jamaica will host the Trinidadians on Friday, November 15 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex beginning at 8 p.m. The squad will then depart the island for Trinidad for the return game on November 19. Captain Burrell indicated that the Federation was seeking to keep a national senior team active as the country begins its campaign for the 2018 World Cup. A grateful Montego Bay mayor, Glendon Harris, affirmed the city's willingness to host the match and urged its citizens to support the game. "I am calling on the fans as well as corporate entities in the city of Montego Bay to support the game by purchasing tickets," said the mayor, stressing that football brings great benefits to the city. Local-based players Meanwhile, national senior men's coach, Winfried Schäfer, said that it was his intention to work with a cadre of local-based players in order to develop them into a core group which will be capable of holding their own on the international stage. Coach Schäfer stressed that the country and the national football programme will be strengthened when local-based players can go overseas on professional contracts and then come back to represent the country. Ticket prices for the game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex: VIP $1,500, grandstand $1,000 and bleachers, $500.
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Reggae meets Soca tonight in MoBay
Published: Friday | November 15, 2013 0 Comments Anderson Anderson Marc Stamp, Gleaner Writer Jamaica's national senior football team, the Reggae Boyz, will square off with the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in the first of two friendly international games, tonight at the Montego Bay Stadium in St James, starting at 8:30 p.m. After another failed bid of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup to be staged in Brazil, next year, the Reggae Boyz begin their 2018 campaign by looking at local based players, and those playing professionally in the United States that were born here. "The friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago are the start of the route to the 2018 World Cup. We will play local players and those abroad, born here," Winfried Schäfer, national senior men's team head coach told The Gleaner yesterday from the team's training base in Montego Bay. "We have one player, Michael Seaton, a 17 year-old, who plays in the MLS (Major League Soccer), plus two schoolboys, and also Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson from Montego Bay, who is the oldest player in the squad," Schäfer pointed out. The two schoolboys named in the 22-man squad for the game tonight and the return on November 19 in Trinidad and Tobago are Insamnia Cohen of Manchester High and Khesanio Hall of St Elizabeth Technical Hall is the top marksman in the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup competition, while Cohen is regarded as a promising midfielder. "The young players have looked good in training, and the schoolboys have attracted many, many persons to the training sessions since we have been in Montego Bay. They are very good young players, and we have to develop the right attitude to make them better players," Schäfer disclosed. The German-born coach's four-month contract with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) expires on November 20, and he has expressed a willingness to stay and develop football players here from the Under-15 level up. Meanwhile, coach of the T&T national senior team, Stephen Hart, said his team was also in a rebuilding phase. "We are grateful for the opportunity to play these two games against Jamaica ... . We are in a rebuilding phase in our programme ... . This should be a good test against a Jamaican team which was recently involved in a competitive World Cup campaign," said Hart. For fans who will be using the bleahers that hold approximately 4,000, the entry fee is $500 per person, while those entering the grandstand which includes the VIP area, will be asked to pay $1,000 and $1,500, respectively. Jamaica's full squad reads: Richard McCallum, Jermain Anderson, Montrose Phinn, Kemar Lawrence, Brian Brown, Gariece McPherson, Keammar Daley, Darren Mattocks, Omar Daley, Alvas Powell, Deshorn Brown, Jason Johnson, Michael Seaton, Je-Vaughn Watson, Dicoy Williams, Upstan Edwards, Ricardo Morris, Jermaine Woozencraft, Andrew Vanzie, Insamnia Cohen, Khesanio Hall and Adrian Reid.
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Schafer happy with Boyz secondhalf against Warriors, but... BY PAUL A REID Observer writer Sunday, November 17, 2013 Print this page Email A Friend! Jamaica..............0
T&T.....................1 [Hide Description] Jamaica’s Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson (right) dribbles away from T&T's Andre Boucaud (partly hidden) as Sheldon Bateau prepares to intercept during their friendly international at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Friday night. Trinidad won 1-0. (PHOTOS: PAUL REID) [Restore Description] 1/2 Guerra (5th) CATHERINE HALL, St James — Jamaica's Reggae Boyz lost to their fiercest rival Trinidad and Tobago for the first time in 12 years, but there was no sense of panic in the Jamaican camp after the first of two friendly internationals between the teams was played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Friday night. Ataulla Guerra, who is based in Finland and one of four European-based players who started for the Soca Warriors, scored the game's lone goal in the fifth minute when the visitors pinned Jamaica back in their own half. Goalkeeper Richard McCallum failed to hold on to a cross from Kenwyne Jones and it was Guerra who got to it first and scored from close range. US-based Omar Daley had a great chance to equalise for Jamaica in the 11th minute, but he put the ball over the crossbar from inside the six- yard box after a good combination between Deshorn Brown and Jermaine Anderson provided him with a good cross into the heart of the Trinidad defence. Both teams flew out of the island yesterday for Tuesday's return leg in Port of Spain and Jamaica's coach Winfried Schafer said he hoped to see some of the players who did not play on Friday. "We just had two training days with a new team," he pointed out, adding later that he was, "not upset at the team for losing". "This is the first match with the local players against a very good team that has four European-based players," said Schafer. The German stressed, however, that while the team was allowed to make mistakes, they must continue to improve and "they need to learn now how they play against big teams". Schafer told reporters they were forced to change the game plan after midfielder Keammar Daley strained his groin during warm-up and had to be replaced by Andrew Vanzie, who he said was "very nervous". In other substitutions, Montego Bay United midfielder Jermaine Woozencroft and US-based striker Michael Seaton replaced Vanzie and Jermaine Anderson, respectively. Those changes, noted Schafer, worked and in the final 15 minutes, so did the formation which changed from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2. Still, he lamented Jamaica's inability to score goals with regularity. "We know what our problem is, we are not scoring, that is the problem in Jamaica and we must work at this in training and in the clubs," Schafer said. He said he was happy with the fight he saw in the team late in the game, especially when they forced a number of free kicks around the box, but scolded team captain Je-Vaughn Watson who deferred the responsibility to take the kicks to others after taking them in training. Trinidad Canadian coach Stephen Hart said his team was also in a rebuilding mode and they were trying some "mixes and matches". "This back four is very young and have never played together before and I was quite impressed with what they did," he told the Jamaica Observer. "We have been struggling to keep a clean sheet and they did that away from home... we are doing a lot of experimenting right now and they are still getting accustomed to me," he said. Late in the game the home team, cheered on by a sparse crowd, forced a tiring Trinidad team back into their own defence area and forced a number of free kicks just around the 18-yard area. Seaton and Woozencroft were particularly impressive with their movements around the box, while Jason Johnson was also a thorn in Trinidad's flesh. Teams Jamaica — Richard McCallum, Dicoy Williams (Upstan Edwards-71st), Montrose Phinn, Alvas Powell, Andrew Vanzie (Jermaine Woozencroft-46), Darren Mattocks (Khesanio Hall-85th), Je-Vaughn Watson, Omar Daley (Jason Johnson-72nd), Deshorn Brown (Brian Brown-72nd), Jermaine Anderson (Michael Seaton-46th), Kemar Lawrence. Subs not used: Ricardo Morris, Adrian Reid, Isamnia Cohen, Gariece McPherson Booked: Seaton (59th) Trinidad and Tobago — Jan Michael Williams, Aubrey David, Justin Hoyte (Cuyrtis Gonzales-63rd), Sheldon Bateau, Kevan George, Ataulla Guerra (Joevin Jones-66th), Daniel Cyrus, Kenwyne Jones, Andre Boucaud, Lester Peltier (Densill Theobald-70th), Rundell Winchester (Radanfah Abu Bakr-90+) Subs not used: Carlyle Mitchell, Cleon John Booked: None Referee: John Pitti Assistants: Kedlee Powell, Keble Williams Fourth Official: Raymond Bogle Match Commissary: Ewan Scott Read more: jamaicaobserver.com/sport/football/Schafer-happy-with-Boyz-secondhalf-against-Warriors--but---_15449334#ixzz2kvX0jWYp
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Trinidad beat Jamaica again Tuesday, November 19, 2013 | 10:46 PM Print this page Email A Friend! By Ian Burnett Port of Spain, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago completed a clean sweep of the ‘Caribbean Clasico’ after they defeated Jamaica 2-0 inside the Hasely Crawford Stadium earlier tonight. 1/1 Ataulla Guerra notched his second goal of the two-game series of friendly internationals when he put the home side ahead inside four minutes of the resumption, and captain Kenwyne Jones secured the win with a penalty strike in the 73rd minute. Trinidad and Tobago had won the first game in the series 1-0 last Friday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on a Guerra fifth-minute strike. Prior to kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect for the passing of the son of former Reggae Boyz head coach and star player Theodore Whitmore, and Port Vale midfielder Christopher Birchall was recognised as he officially brought the curtains down on his international career. Another veteran, Carlos Edwards, of Ipswich Town, was also recognised for his service to the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors. The hosts appeared the better team throughout as they asked many questions of the Jamaican defence marshaled by teenager Alvas Powell and Upston Edwards at centre back, along with Adrian Reid and Kemar Lawrence. However the quartet playing together as a unit for the first time held up very well, limiting the chances of their opponents at goal. However, an injury to Edwards forced his substitution at the interval and the Soca Warriors pounced on his absence immediately when Guerra was allowed the luxury of cutting inside from the left flank and dribbled to the centre of the penalty area before unloading a powerful low drive into the corner of the goal. It was from a similar situation that Trinidad earned their second goal as Jones and Rundell Winchester combined neatly on the left before the latter wiggled past his marker to dart inside the box. Powell came across but was too late and could only bring down the player giving Surinamese referee Enrico Winjgaarde no choice but to point to the sport. Jones made no mistake to add to the tally and make amends for a clear missed chance early in the first half when he skied a right-sided cross from inside the six-yard box. The Jamaicans had a decent shout for penalty waved off in the first half when Omar Daley robbed Edwards, who dallied on the ball for far too long. Daley raced inside the penalty area from the left and instead of relaying a pass to Michael Seaton, who was in a clear position to score, he held onto the ball even as the retreating Edwards pulled him to the turf. But in the end Trinidad and Tobago were worthy winners against an experimental Jamaican side. The Jamaicans will return home tomorrow. Read more: jamaicaobserver.com/news/Trinidad-beat-Jamaica-again#ixzz2lCYdNAWj
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Trinidad beat Jamaica again Tuesday, November 19, 2013 | 10:46 PM Print this page Email A Friend! By Ian Burnett Port of Spain, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago completed a clean sweep of the ‘Caribbean Clasico’ after they defeated Jamaica 2-0 inside the Hasely Crawford Stadium earlier tonight. 1/1 Ataulla Guerra notched his second goal of the two-game series of friendly internationals when he put the home side ahead inside four minutes of the resumption, and captain Kenwyne Jones secured the win with a penalty strike in the 73rd minute. Trinidad and Tobago had won the first game in the series 1-0 last Friday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on a Guerra fifth-minute strike. Prior to kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect for the passing of the son of former Reggae Boyz head coach and star player Theodore Whitmore, and Port Vale midfielder Christopher Birchall was recognised as he officially brought the curtains down on his international career. Another veteran, Carlos Edwards, of Ipswich Town, was also recognised for his service to the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors. The hosts appeared the better team throughout as they asked many questions of the Jamaican defence marshaled by teenager Alvas Powell and Upston Edwards at centre back, along with Adrian Reid and Kemar Lawrence. However the quartet playing together as a unit for the first time held up very well, limiting the chances of their opponents at goal. However, an injury to Edwards forced his substitution at the interval and the Soca Warriors pounced on his absence immediately when Guerra was allowed the luxury of cutting inside from the left flank and dribbled to the centre of the penalty area before unloading a powerful low drive into the corner of the goal. It was from a similar situation that Trinidad earned their second goal as Jones and Rundell Winchester combined neatly on the left before the latter wiggled past his marker to dart inside the box. Powell came across but was too late and could only bring down the player giving Surinamese referee Enrico Winjgaarde no choice but to point to the sport. Jones made no mistake to add to the tally and make amends for a clear missed chance early in the first half when he skied a right-sided cross from inside the six-yard box. The Jamaicans had a decent shout for penalty waved off in the first half when Omar Daley robbed Edwards, who dallied on the ball for far too long. Daley raced inside the penalty area from the left and instead of relaying a pass to Michael Seaton, who was in a clear position to score, he held onto the ball even as the retreating Edwards pulled him to the turf. But in the end Trinidad and Tobago were worthy winners against an experimental Jamaican side. The Jamaicans will return home tomorrow. Read more: jamaicaobserver.com/news/Trinidad-beat-Jamaica-again#ixzz2lCYdNAWj
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JFF, Schäfer strike deal - German to coach Boyz until 2018 Published: Tuesday | January 28, 2014 0 Comments Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter After negotiations with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) which lasted just over a month, Winfried Schäfer has agreed to a new contract which will see him resume duties as the head coach of Jamaica's national senior team until 2018. The German, who returned to his country for the Christmas holidays following the expiration of his initial four-month contract in November, is set to arrive in the island today. "Schäfer returns at two o'clock in Montego Bay on Condor Airlines directly from Germany to resume his job, as we have been able to reach an agreement," JFF President Captain Horace Burrell disclosed to The Gleaner. Schäfer was originally appointed for a four-month period in an effort to rescue the country's ailing 2014 World Cup campaign, but it proved too little too late as the Reggae Boyz finished at the bottom of the Hexagonal. To enhance the Reggae Boyz's chances of qualifying for Russia 2018, Schäfer's return is set to be followed by numerous changes. "There are going to be some changes, (such as) his assistants," Burrell shared. "Schäfer will be working alongside the JFF technical team in helping to reshape and restructure football going forward. It is not going to be business as usual." At the top of the list of the recommendations to be made by the technical committee is the appointment of a new technical director of the country's football programme - a post which has been vacant since July 2013 following the resignation of Alfredo Montesso. INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE The 64-year-old Schäfer has coached several German clubs, with his international coaching experience coming at the helm of the Thailand and Cameroon national teams. He led the latter to a victory in the 2002 African Nations Cup. But what has impressed Burrell most is his work ethic. "On one occasion, he drove from Montego Bay to Kingston to watch a game and then drove back down to Montego Bay the same evening to catch a night match," Burrell recounted. "Such is the nature of the man in terms of his interest and enthusiasm, and having spent the Christmas with his family, I expect to see an even more energised Schäfer coming back." Schäfer was so keen on staying on as Jamaica's head coach that he went as far as seeking sponsorship in his own country, a venture which Burrell is still optimistic will bear fruit. "He is cognisant of the fact that Jamaica is not a rich country and he also believes in brand Jamaica," Burrell said. "He is a well-known football icon in Germany, so he proceeded to use his clout to get additional sponsorship from Germany. He spoke directly with two German sports goods manufacturers and, although not yet confirmed, it is looking good." According to Burrell, Schäfer believes if Usain Bolt had been a Reggae Boy, attracting sponsors would not be an issue. "He said to me, 'If only we could get a little bit of Usain Bolt in Jamaican football, it would be all over, because in Germany it is about Usain Bolt'." ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com
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Boyz give good account in losing effort against slick Serbia Tuesday, May 27, 2014 Picture HARRISON, New Jersey — Jamaica kicked off their four-game friendly international series with a 1-2 loss to a slick Serbian outfit here at the Red Bull Arena yesterday. Midfielder Dusan Tadic opened the scoring in the 13th minute and Manchester City's left back Aleksandar Kolarov added another in the 22nd minute, before substitute Michael Seaton pulled one back for the Reggae Boyz in the 53rd minute. The game was played in front of a sparse crowd of less than 3,000, well below the 25,000 capacity venue, which is home to the New York Red Bulls. The Serbians entered the field wearing white t-shirts with the words "SERBIA NEEDS HELP" on both the front and the back. They then invited the Jamaican team and match officials to join them behind a huge banner with the same words at the half line. The organisers then asked for a moment's silence. That was as far as the pleasantries were extended as the Europeans got off to a blistering start, with slick combination plays, forcing the Reggae Boyz deep into their defensive third. The Boyz didn't help their cause as with the game only three minutes old striker Darren Mattocks, who had retreated to help out in defence, picked up a clearance midway his half on the right flank. Though facing his goal he played a blind pass intended for goalkeeper Andre Blake, only for the lurking Aleksandar Mitrovic to intercept. The big striker teased the unsure goalkeeper before serving a well-weighted pass for the onrushing Lazar Markovic, who cleared the way before slamming the ball against the crossbar. Danger averted, but not for long as the Serbs mounted attack after attack. The Jamaican three-man defence, which included Alvas Powell, who arrived from his Portland Timber outfit on Sunday night, started to show signs of cracking and it was not surprise when they let in the first goal. Tadic received a pass from midfield towards the left of the field, played a neat give-and-go with Zoran Tosic to free himself inside the penalty box. Still, he had plenty to do, but he did it in style, as he skipped by Upstan Edwards before firing a low shot past Blake. Nine minutes later Jamaica gifted possession of the ball to Kolarov and he made them pay the ultimate price. Retreating midway the Jamaican half, Christopher Humphrey attempted a clearance only for the ball to be picked off by Kolarov, who worked his way into the box, thanks to a one-two play with Tadic, and the Barclay's Premiership winner blasted past Blake at his near post. The Boyz then got into their own and started to penetrate the Serbs with skill and pace in attack, however, their finishing inside the final third failed to match their enterprise. Goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic was forced into his first save towards the end of the first half when Mattocks's effort was easily save after a good build-up play from the back. But the Jamaican defence was always susceptible at the other end and Blake, the unused number one overall pick in this season's MLS draft by the Philadelphia Union, came up trumps with a number of fine saves to keep his team in the game. Coach Winfried Schaefer replaced Mattocks with Seaton and John-Ross Edwards with Nicholas Beckett at the start of the second half, and along with his team talk which included better possession of the ball and patience, the Boyz looked a better unit. And it was no surprise when the feisty Seaton unlocked the Serbian defence when he rose high to plant a header well out of the reach of the despairing dive of Stojkovic after Kemar Lawrence and Joel Grant combined well on the left to provide the cross into the penalty area. But at the other end, Blake showed what he was made of with a string of fine saves. And in what could be considered the best move of the game for the Boyz, Dawkins produced a thunderous shot which was equally well saved by the flying Stojkovic, which evoked applause for both the striker and the goalkeeper. Substitute Nicholy Finlayson and Dawkins combined well on the left from their half of the field, and as they sliced their way through the field, the Derby County player employed Seaton in an excellent one-touch move, and as he sought to clear a few defenders, he was forced wide which made the chance a little more difficult, thus giving Stojkovic the chance to execute the save. As the game petered out, substitute Hughan Gray brought down Kolarov inside the penalty area, but Blake had other ideas, as he executed a brilliant save to stun the Manchester City man, and his supporters inside the Arena, to keep the score line respectable. Coach Schaefer was pleased with the effort of his team, all factors considered. "I believe Jamaica was the winner," he declared. "We showed that Jamaica can play football. Many local players played against some very good Serbian players, who play at top clubs in Europe, and after a nervous start, they showed what they can do and I am satisfied. "Sure, they made mistakes, that is obvious, but I'm not bothered by that," he said, before highlighting the difficulties many of his players encountered because they are not fully fit at this time. The Boyz, minus Powell and Deshorn Brown, will depart New York today for Switzerland, where they will play that country on Friday at Luzern. They then journey to London to face Egypt on June 4, before wrapping up the series against France in Lille on June 8. Teams: Jamaica — Andre Blake, Alvas Powell, Upstan Edwards, Lloyd Doyley, Rodolph Austin, John-Ross Edwards (Nicholas beckett 46th), Joel Grant (Romario Campbell 78th), Kemar Lawrence INicholy Finlayson 74th), Christopher Humphrey (Hughan Gray 71st), Simon Dawkins (Deshorn Brown 83rd), Darren Mattocks (Michael Seaton 46th). Subs not used: Jacomeno Barrett, Dwayne Miller. Booked: Upstan Edwards (86th) Serbia — Vladimir Stojkovic, Branislav Ivanovic, Aleksandar Jolarov, Nemanja Pejcinovic, Nemanja Gudelj, Nemanja Matic (Radoslav Petrovic 86th), Milos Tojic, Dusan Tadic, Lazar Markovic (Dusan Basta 60th), Zoran Tosic, Aleksandar Mitrovic (Filip Dordevic 69th) Subs not used: Zeljko Brkic, Dusan Tosic, Radoslav Petrovic, Filip Dordevic, Stefan Mitrovic. Booked: None Referee: Dave Gantar (Canada) Assistants: Phil Briere, Daniel Belleau (Canada) Fourth Official: Jose Carlos Rivero (USA)
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Boyz give spirited display against World Cup-bound Switzerland
Gutsy Boyz leave Schaefer smiling after losing to Switzerland IAN BURNETT ON TOUR with the REGGAE BOYZ Saturday, May 31, 2014 Print this page Email A Friend! LUZERN, Switzerland — Jamaica forward Darren Mattocks (airborne) eludes a sliding tackle from Switzerland defender Philippe Senderos during their friendly football match here, yesterday. Switzerland won 1-0. (PHOTO: AFP) LUZERN, Switzerland — The Reggae Boyz continued where they left off against Serbia with another spirited display which saw them hold out against Switzerland for much of their international friendly here at the Swisspoarena Luzern, until they succumbed to an 84th-minute strike, yesterday. Played in front of a capacity 15,000 spectators at the intimate venue, which had a few black, green and gold-clad spectators supporting the visitors, it was a game of ebbs and flows, as both teams were intent to play open football, which resulted in enterprising play. Half-time substitute Josip Drmic made the difference when he broke into the penalty area to receive a through pass from Blerim Dzemaili before turning Wes Morgan to hit home with the outside of his right boot through the flailing hands of goalkeeper Andre Blake. In the end it was as much as the hosts deserve, having carved out the better goalscoring opportunities on the night, despite another brilliant display between the frame by Blake, who, for the second game in a row, raised eyebrows with his heroics. Head coach Winfried Schaefer was not surprised at the performance of the Reggae Boyz. In fact, he believes they are beginning to regain respect in the football world. “I’m not surprised because I know my players have good character and good spirit, but we have to find one player who can keep the ball in front as a striker,” he said at game’s end. “I saw yesterday (Thursday) they had a very good training, the spirit was very good and we have good leaders in the team now,” he continued. He added: “It was not a friendly match, it was for our image, for Jamaica. I saw Dawkins and Grant, they are good players and I never saw them before these games. I told Ottmar (Hitzfeld, coach of Switzerland), when you can beat Jamaica then you can make quarterfinals of World Cup. He was happy with our play, and he was surprised at our ability to play football. “He said, ‘What is this?’ Before, nobody knows about Jamaica, but now there is respect for Jamaica. I’m happy, not about the result, but the performance, it was very good. Our image is better now than before and we will continue to build a good team for all competitions coming up, the Caribbean Cup, the Gold Cup and the Copa America.” The German is hoping that when the local players go home from this tour they will train harder on their own to be better players at the international level, so that they can continue to play against footballers from some of the best clubs in Europe. As expected, Switzerland, who will be making their 10th appearance at next month’s FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil, started spritely, forcing the Boyz to hold a defensive line just outside their penalty area. The hosts had their first shot in anger when Dzemaili blasted over the horizontal from outside the penalty area, after failing to get behind the Jamaican defence on their first few forays in attack. Blake was called into action early, as he raced off his line to avert danger at the expense of a corner. The Boyz were comfortable employing a counter-attacking ploy, and on one such move involving Joel Grant and Darren Mattocks, it resulted in Grant centring from the left, but the ball couldn’t beat the former Arsenal defenders Johan Djourour and Philippe Senderos. Demar Phillips then blasted the rebound harmlessly over the top. Moments later Blake had to be at his brilliant best at the other end to parry a spliced effort from the boot of the retreating Adrian Mariappa, from a right-sided low cross. In a flash the Boyz made inroads at the other end with Rodolph Austin unleashing a left-footed pile driver which took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, before sailing past the wrong side of the left upright. On the half-hour mark, striker Michael Seaton turned beautifully between Djourou and Senderos, only for the former to pull him down just inside their half. Referee Neil Doyle produced a yellow card, but had it been a competitive game, it could have been red. From the resulting free kick, Grant’s drive was deflected for a corner. Shortly after, Dawkins and Seaton combined well on the left to provide an opening for Phillips, but yet again the Swiss defence was alert to block the effort. Intent on making their territorial advantage count, Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld introduced his skipper Gokhan Inler of Napoli, and Drmic at the break and they continued to push the Jamaicans deep into their defensive third, but try as they might, the tricky Xherdan Shaqiri of Bayern Munich, Granit Xhaka and company could not find a way past an inspired Blake, who foiled their attempts time and again. On one occasion he had to make a double save on his goal line. Drmic had a glorious opportunity to stab home at the far post after the hour mark, but his effort was drilled into the ground and over the top. It was a sign of things to come. Six minutes from the end, Drmic broke into the penalty box to receive a through pass which Mariappa just failed to cut out. He turned inside Morgan before applying the killer touch to finally beat Blake from close range. The Swiss will now take on Peru at the same venue next Tuesday, before journeying to South America for their World Cup campaign. The Boyz will depart Switzerland today for London, where they are scheduled to face Egypt in another friendly international on Wednesday, before closing out against France in Lille on June 8. Four players — Blake, Dwayne Miller, Mattocks and Phillips — have ended their stay with the Boyz and will return to their respective clubs. Teams: Jamaica — Andre Blake, Lloyd Doyley, Wes Morgan, Michael Seaton (Romario Campbell 74th), Darren Mattocks (Christopher Humphrey 54th), Demar Phillips (Nicholas Beckett 78th), Joel Grant, Rodolph Austin, Simon Dawkins (Keithy Simpson 90th), Adrian Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence. Subs not used: Dwayne Miller, Jacomeno Barrett, Upstan Edwards, Nicholy Finlayson, Hughan Gray, John-Ross Campbell Booked: None Switzerland — Diego Benaglio (Yann Sommer 46th), Stephan Lichtsteiner, Reto Ziegler (Ricardo Rodriquez (83rd), Philippe Senderos, Haris Seferovic (Josip Drmic 46th), Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami (Gokhan nler 46th), Blerim Dzemaili, Admir Mehmedi (Valentin Stocker (64th), John Djourou, Xherdan Shaqiri (Gelson Fernandes 72nd). Subs not used: Roman Burki, Steve Von Bergen, Michael Lang, Fabian Schaer Booked: Djourou (27th), Xhaka (77th) Referee: Neil Doyle (Ireland) Assistant Referees: Dermot Broughton, Wayne McDonnell (Ireland) Fourth Official: Adrien Jaccottet (Switzerland)
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Boyz cruise to 3-0 win over Cuba BY PAUL A REID Observer writer Wednesday, April 01, 2015 4 Comments Print this page Email A Friend!  (L) Jamaica’s Adrian Mariappa (left) battles Cuba’s Cricheell Hernandez in Monday’s international friendly at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. (R) Jamaica’s Rudolph Austin powers his way through the midfield after getting past Cuba’s Alejandro Reyes in Monday’s international friendly at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. Jamaica won the game 3-0. (PHOTO: PAUL REID) CATHERINE HALL, St James -- Jamaica's Reggae Boyz continued their good build up to a busy summer competition schedule after easing past Cuba 3-0 in a friendly international at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on a wet and cool Monday night. Three days after getting by a much tougher Venezuelan outfit at the same venue, the Reggae Boyz ran their record to five straight wins and unbeaten in six games as they prepared for the Copa America in June and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July. Romeo Parkes scored in the first minute with his first goal for the Reggae Boyz in his first start, Daniel Gordon got the second three minutes later, while Darren Mattocks, now dubbed 'Mr Reliable', scored the third in the 30th minute. Jamaica made five changes to the team that beat Venezuela as a number of players used the opportunity to try and convince coach Winfried Schaefer they deserve a place in the squad for both tournaments. Schaefer was pleased with the performance of the team over both games. "We concentrated for 90 minutes against Venezuela, and we did a lot of good things tonight (Monday)," he said. He is still on the lookout for more players, he said. "We have to look at many more players, we can't use the same squad for the Copa America and the Gold Cup," he said, adding that he hoped some of the players like England-based Simon Dawkins will be fit and ready. Schaefer said he was not sure what Cuba would bring but after they went up 2-0 in less than five minutes, the intensity dropped. He urged that in this situation the team should press hard and try to score as many goals as possible. He said, however, the team might have been a bit tired after Friday's exertions. Cuba had only eight members of the Caribbean Cup team that qualified for the Gold Cup and 12 of their Under-20 team that failed to get past the first round of the CONCACAF Under-20 tournament, also held in Montego Bay in January, as they seek to develop younger players. The Cuba coach said, through an interpreter, they were caught out by the speed of the corners and while they had practised defending corners, they had no answer to the Jamaican set plays. He said Jamaica was the best team in the region and they came expecting a tough game, and going behind so early made it difficult to recover. Jamaica earned two corners in the first minute and the Cuban goalkeeper Alejandro Guerra punched one only as far as the edge of the 18-yard box and Parkes, who plays his club football in Central America, powered it back past the left of the diving custodian. Gordon would have impressed with his goal-poaching instincts, flashing a header past Guerra in the fourth minute after the Cuban defence got caught and failed to clear another ball. Cuba eventually settled down and kept the Jamaican team out of their defensive area, but the locals were not to be denied as Mattocks showed off his ball-handling skills on two occasions to get away from double teams, before he too capitalised on another Cuba defensive lapse and headed into the goal from close range past Guerra in the 30th minute. Mattocks should have had a second in the 59th minute but his diving header was saved just on the line then cleared out of danger. A raft of changes by both teams took a lot of the intensity out of the game, but Montego Bay United's Owayne Gordon, who replaced Parkes in the 50th minute, showed some industry with his surging runs, while defender Adrian Mariappa and Hughan Grey, who came on for Mattocks, pressured the Cuban defence to the end. Teams: Jamaica -- Ryan Thompson, Daniel Gordon, Westley Morgan (Jermaine Taylor 62nd), Giles Barnes, Darren Mattocks (Hughan Grey 61st), Joel Grant, Je-Vaughn Watson, Romeo Parkes (Owayne Gordon 50th), Rudolph Austin (Dino Williams 78th), Adrian Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence (Ricardo Morris 60th). Subs not used: DuWayne Kerr, Peter Harrison Booked: None Cuba -- Alejandro Guerra, Andy Baguero (Humerto Dranquet 69th), Janiel Marquez (Luis Clavelo 82nd), Leiraldo Collado (Yannier Martinez 68th), Edwardo Santa (Manuel Perez 81st), Alejandro Reyes (Yoandir Puja 77th), Pedro Martinez, Luis Corrales, Criceell Hernandez (Tomas Cruz 73rd), Arturo Diz Pie, Renay Malblanche Subs not used: Yazmani Lopez, Sandi Sanchez, Reynier Guerra Booked: none Referee: Kimbell Ward (St Kitts/Nevis) Assistant Referees: Richard Washington (Jamaica), Lloyd Edwards (Jamaica) Fourth Official: Karl Tyrell (Jamaica) Match Commissary: Beverly Melbourne (Jamaica) Big Win For Reggae Boyz Share on googleShare on twitterShare on facebook Published:Sunday | March 29, 2015Paul Clarke  Paul Clarke Reggae Boyz midfielder Joel McAnuff (left) tries to get by Venezuelan defender Fernando Amorebieta in Friday night’s international friendly at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. Jamaica won 2-1. Western Bureau: It wasn't a classic Reggae Boyz performance against Venezuela in their international friendly on Friday night at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, but goals from debutant Giles Barnes and Darren Mattocks made it a satisfying 2-1 win that pleased head coach Winfried Sch‰fer. "I am happy for the victory. I think teamwork was good and it allowed Giles (Barnes) and Darren (Mattocks) to score," Sch‰fer said. "Venezuela are a strong South American team but we played well and the players did as expected to give Jamaica the win," the coach said. 13th Minute The Reggae Boyz fell behind from a spectacular strike in the 13th minute. Defender Gabriel Cichero curled a wicked shot past Jamaican goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr, from 35 yards out. Cichero was given too much space by the back-pedalling Jamaican defenders and he made them pay the ultimate price. Jamaica struck back almost immediately from a beautiful run through the middle of the Venezuelan defence by debutant Barnes, who lashed a low shot past Alain Baroja in the Venezuelan goal for the equaliser in the 15th minute. Mattocks would score in the 60th minute as the Reggae Boyz grabbed the lead in front of a decent Montego Bay crowd, but could easily have scored a hat-trick had he been more decisive in front of goal. "It's a great feeling scoring on debut for the Boyz, but while I am happy scoring goals, the most important thing is that we won," Barnes said. "I am comfortable with the team, as I knew several of the players before. I am looking to have a good run in the team and, of course, score lots more goals for the country," added Barnes.
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