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**Karl** · February 21, 2007, 08:42 AM

RE: Young Boyz face big test

Reggae Boyz start quest for Cup glory
published: Wednesday | February 21, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody j4lQv="true">

Howard Walker, Staff Reporter</DIV>

JAMAICA'S UNDER-20 footballers start their quest for World Cup glory today against Costa Rica in Group B action of the CONCACAF qualifiers at 4:00 p.m. (Jamaica time).

In the other Group B encounter, hosts Mexico tackle St. Kitts and Nevis at 7:00 p.m. at the Banorte Stadium.

Jamaica are hunting their second qualification to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup since the team reached the 2001 version in Argentina six years ago.

Coach Dr. Dean Weatherly is confident this talented bunch of youngsters can repeat that achievement and be one of two teams from the group to advance to Canada.

"In terms of technical ability, this team is a better team and much faster than the previous one. As you know, playing against Costa Rica, Mexico and St. Kitts is a big task," Weatherly said.

No easy task

"It is not a hurdle that we cannot climb over, but it won't be easy. So we have to go there with all guns blazing. It is one that we really need to do for Jamaica football at this stage," he said.

Jamaica need a good start against Costa Rica as the game against Mexico will prove to be their biggest test while they should do enough to secure three points against fellow Caribbean team St. Kitts & Nevis.

Jamaica's journey to the final round has not been spectacular but efficient enough so far and the players are expected to lift their game to another level.

Grant to lead attack

Striker Joel Grant, out of English Premier League club Watford, is expected to spearhead the attack. He scored both goals when the young Reggae Boyz defeated Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) 2-0 in Kingston before losing the return leg 1-0 in Marabella in December.

Grant should be ably supported by midfield general Joel Senior, Andre ****an, Keammar Daley, captain Ricardo Cousins, Omar Persad, James Thomas, Eric Vernon, Nicholas Beckett and Dwayne Miller.

In the first-round Caribbean qualifiers, Jamaica, playing in Group G in Haiti, defeated the Netherlands Antilles and Ber-muda 2-0 and 3-1 respectively before playing to a 1-1 draw with hosts Haiti to finish second on goal difference.

To date, the Under-20s have been playing a series of local clubs as part of their preparations. They played Tafari Lions twice - winning 5-0 and drawing 1-1; they beat Seba 4-1, Waterhouse 3-1 and lost 1-0 and 3-2 to Reno and Village respectively.

Costa Rica trounced Nicaragua 7-1 before playing to a 2-2 draw with Honduras to advance to the final round.

**Karl** · February 21, 2007, 12:00 PM

RE: Young Boyz face big test

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Young Boyz ready for crucial test after long flight</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>After lengthy stops between flights in Miami and Mexico City, Jamaica's national Under-20 team touched down at exactly midnight Jamaica time (10:00 pm in Culiacan and 11:00 pm in Mexico City) on Monday in the north-western city of Culiacan, where they will battle for a birth in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=110 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description></SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>The young Reggae Boyz were greeted by officials from the Mexico Football Federation and a handful of journalists, who quickly got a hold of head coach, Dr Dean Weatherly.
Weatherly and his young brigade are vying for one of two spots up for grabs as they enter the final phase of the Group B CONCACAF qualifiers with hosts Mexico, Costa Rica and St Kitts & Nevis.<P class=StoryText align=justify>After conducting brief interviews with the local media, the delegation - headed by president Crenston Boxhill, but minus team doctor Javed Ramdial, physiotherapist Denese Allen and defender Eric Vernan - was swiftly ushered into the team bus.<P class=StoryText align=justify>From there on, the bus took them to the Hotel Executivo,where they will remain for the remainder of the tournament, which begins today.
At the team hotel, the entire 24-member delegation that arrived were accredited for the crucial tournament, which sees Jamaica versus Costa Rica in the opening match of a double-header today.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Meantime, the trio of Dr Ramdial, Allen and Vernan, arrived late last night (Tuesday night), with the latter unlikely to start.
The team conducted their first and only training session yesterday afternoon at the Banorte Stadium, where all the matches will be played.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Squad - Andre ****an, Dwayne Smith, Draion McNain, Dwayne Kerr, Dwayne Miller, Edward Campbell, Eric Vernan, James Thomas, Joel Grant, Joel Senior, Keammar Daley, Michael Binns, Montrose Phinn, Nicholas Beckett, Ricardo Cousins, Troy Smith, Alonzo Adlam, Andrae Campbell, Norman Bailey, Omar Persad.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Team officials - Crenston Boxhill (president/head of delegation), Dr Dean Weatherly, coach; Desmond Smith, assistant coach; Sean Samuels, physical trainer; Dr Javed Ramdial, team doctor; Denese Allen, physiotherapist; Courtney Brown, team manager.

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