Jamaica Football Federation, Founded 1962, Affiliated to FIFA CONCACAF and CFU.
20 St. Lucia Crescent, Kingston 5, Jamaica, West Indies
Telephone: (876) 929 0484 / (876) 929 8036 / (876) 926 1182
Fax: (876) 929 0483 / (876) 960 2421
Email: jamff@hotmail.com
CONCACAF GOLD CUP PLAYOFFS
Jamaica, Barbados grab Group C lead after victories
Jamaica and Barbados moved into a tie for the top spot in Caribbean Zone Qualifying Group C to the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Grenada, Monday, after posting 2:0 victories over Guadeloupe and the host country, respectively.
Jamaica, who had tied 1-1 with Barbados in the first game on November 9, dominated the afternoon's first match from the outset, launching an all-out attack from the early moments. Though the Reggae Boyz put together several chances in the first half, they were unable to find the Guadeloupe net as the teams headed to the interval scoreless.
The Jamaicans continued to manifest their attacking prowess early in the second half, this time their results bore fruit almost immediately. Jermaine Johnson opened the scoring in the 56th minute, finding an opening in the Guadeloupe defence and hitting home.
Paul Hall doubled the advantage for the Jamaicans two minutes later and their defence held firm as they assured themselves of at least a share of the top spot in the group heading into Wednesday's final match against hosts Grenada.
Barbados beat Granada 2-0 in the second game of the evening to sit level with Jamaica. They will play Guadeloupe in the first game on Wednesday.
Group C is the first of four Gold Cup qualifying groups to be played in the Caribbean Zone in the next month. The top two teams in each group will advance to the final phase of Caribbean qualifying for next summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The final eight-team phase is set for April 2003.
11.11.2002, St. George's, National Stadium (Attendance: 2500)
JAMAICA - GUADELOUPE 2:0 (0:0)
Jermaine JOHNSON 56'; Paul HALL 58'
JAM: Donovan Ricketts - Claude Davis, Ian Goodison, Tyrone Marshall, Robert Scarlett, Craig Ziadie, Richard Langley (64: Omar Daley), Fitzroy Simpson, Jermaine Johnson (62: Andrew Williams), Paul Hall (75: Wolde Harris), Fabian Taylor. Booked: Langley 10'; Johnson 21'; Taylor 41'.
(CONCACAF)
Arnett Gardens vs. Harbour View in End-of-Round Final
Defending champions, Arnett Gardens, and former winners, Harbour View,
confirmed their place in the 1st End –of -Round Final of the Wray
and Nephew Premier League following their 2-2 result at the Tony Spaulding
Sports Complex on Sunday. Both teams finished the round on 24 points along
with Hazard United, but Hazard were left in third spot on goal difference.
When they (Arnett Gardens and Harbour View) meet again next Sunday at the
same venue at 5:00pm, it will be for monetary gains ($150,000 and $100,000)
plus three valuable bonus points. The loser get one.
Captain, Cornel Chin-Sue, and Fabian Davis were on target for Arnett - who
led twice - but Jomo Gordon, and inspirational midfielder, Jermaine Hue,
replied for the visitors.
It was a game which, at times, threatened to explode into a fascinating
contest. However, referee Raymond Pine was kept busy going to his top pocket
on 10 occasions, while directing early showers to two players - the erratic
Gerald Neil of Arnett, and Harbour View's substitute, Christopher Jackson.
"It was a good game, a good tactical game," said Arnett's coach, Jerome
Waite. "Both teams came here with a purpose, moving the ball from defence to
midfield to attack," he declared.
However, he was displeased with his team's finishing and the "lapse in
concentration" of his defenders. Striker, Kwame Richardson and the usually
reliable Kevin Wilson squandered at least two very good opportunities.
For the final, Waite hopes his charges will show more urgency.
His opposite number, Donovan Hayles, while conceding that both teams have an
equal chance, cited weaknesses in the Arnett midfield that he will try to
exploit next Sunday.
"... I think we still we can dominate them in midfield because I see a lot
of space there that we can exploit," he said.
Chin-Sue put his team ahead on the half-hour when he finished off a
brilliant combination of one-touch play, which ripped the Harbour View
defence apart.
But Harbour View are in good form, as evidenced by their thrilling
come-from-behind 4-3 victory away to Tivoli Gardens the previous week, and
their 9-1 humiliation of Wadadah mid-week. It was therefore no surprise when
they pulled level in the 39th.
Gordon, who had earlier hit the crossbar, latched onto a marvellous through
ball from Hue, and with Julian McLeish racing off his line, calmly slotted
home.
With 66 minutes gone, Wilson, was charged down inside the penalty area by
goalkeeper, Leeroy Gray, and the referee pointed to the spot. Former
national midfielder, Davis, made no mistake.
But two minutes from time, the "Stars of the East" were awarded a free kick
30 metres out and Hue buried his second free-kick for his fourth goal in
three games - albeit with the help of a deflection.
ARNETT GARDENS
- Julian McLeish, Alex Thomas, Oneil Dunn, Shane Stevens, Cornel Chin-Sue,
Gerald Neil (ejected 80th), Fabian Davis, Kevin Wilson, Gregory Messam,
Kwame Richardson (Denton Shedden 87th), Walter Boyd (Jermaine Benjamin
87th).
Booked: Neil (6 & 80th minutes - Red card), Thomas (19th) and Boyd (59th).
HARBOUR VIEW - Leeroy Gray, William Richards, Clifton Waugh, Damion
Stewart, Marvin Morgan, Craig Stewart, Baris Johnson (Christopher Jackson
46th - ejected 75th), Jermaine Hue, Daniel Shaw (Sean Fraser 82nd), Jomo
Gordon and Nicholas McCreath (Dino Williams 72nd).
(Jamaica
Observer)
Trevor Benjamin to turn out for Jamaica
There will be a new Reggae Boy in Jamaica's squad for a friendly international against Nigeria next week. He is 23 year-old Leicester City forward, Trevor Benjamin, who plays alongside another Reggae Boy, Frank Sinclair in the English Division One.
"He has been doing well in the English First Division so far this season ... and he has expressed a willingness to play for us," said technical director-designate, Carl Brown, yesterday.
Brown said that Benjamin brings not only a mixture of youth and professionalism, but provides options in the striker's position for the national senior team.
"He's a young player and a professional and I believe that's what we are looking for, and plus we are looking for strikers," Brown noted. Benjamin's parents, according to Brown, are Jamaicans.
Five other English-based players are expected for the Nigeria game joining four presently playing in Grenada. They are Ricardo Fuller, Ricardo Gardner, Deon Burton, Kevin Lisbie and Micah Hyde.
Already with the team are Richard Langley, Fitzroy Simpson, Paul Hall and Jermaine Johnson.
(Jamaica Observer)
Earl Bailey
Press Officer - JFF
Mobile: 876-351 2656
PATRON: The Governor General
OFFICERS: Captain Horace G. Burrell, CD, JP, OMFIFA, President; Raymond Anderson, 1st Deputy President, Lincoln Sutherland, 2nd Deputy President; E. David Watt 3rd Deputy President; Peter Reid, Treasurer; Linnel McLean, Executive Officer; Horace D. Reid, General Secretary.
Jamaica Football Federation