October 2

November 5, 2002

Brown Pick Strong Squad For CONCACAF Gold Cup Playoffs

Jamaica’s Technical Director, Carl Brown, clearly mindful of Jamaica’ s failure to qualify for the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, has opted for a top-class squad including nine foreign-based players to tackle opponents in the Gold Cup playoffs, which begins on Saturday in Grenada. Jamaica will have hosts Grenada, Barbados and Guadeloupe for company on November 9,11 and 13.

The squad is: Aaron Lawrence, Donovan Rickettes, Andy Williams (NY/NJ METRO STARS), Claude Davis, Linval Dixon, Craig Ziadie (NY/NJ METRO STARS), Ian Goodison, Wolde Harris (NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION), Omar Daley, Winston Griffiths,(NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION) Fabian Taylor, Tyrone Marshall (LA GALAXY), Robert Scarlett, Jermaine Johnson (BOLTON WANDERERS), Paul Hall (RUSHDEN &DIAMONDS), Fitzroy Simpson (WALSALL), Johnathan Williams and Richard Langley (QPR).

The main body of the squad leaves Jamaica leave for Grenada this Thursday, but some of the players will fly directly to St Georges.

DATES CONFIRMED FOR NIGERIA AND BELIZE FRIENDLIES

Jamaica's national senior footballers are set for a busy November after JFF President, Captain Horace Burrell, confirmed last Wednesday two additional friendly internationals.

On November 20, Jamaica will take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Lagos, and three days later they journey to Belize for another international friendly.

Before that on November 9, 11, and 13, the Reggae Boyz will participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying (Cope Caribe) tournament in Grenada, where the top two teams advance to the final round in Trinidad and Tobago next year.

'I concluded arrangements with the Nigerian Federation at 0:200 hour this morning when I received a signed contract from the Nigerian Football Association for a big friendly in Lagos to be played on Wednesday, November 20,' Burrell said.

Both teams engaged each other in a friendly international in London last May, with the World Cup bound Nigerians scoring a 1-0 victory.

'For many years both countries have tried to organise a friendly in Lagos, but for one reason or another, plans never materialised,' Burrell declared.

The JFF boss noted that his federation 'wants the nation to share in this glorious occasion' and so all the necessary arrangements have been put in place to facilitate both TV stations beaming the game live.

After the Copa Caribe tournament in Grenada, the Reggae Boyz return home on November 14. A day later they journey to London, England where they will overnight before arriving in Lagos, Nigeria.

Burrell noted that Jamaica 'will be fielding the strongest possible team' as the 20th of November is a FIFA date for international friendlies which makes it possible for clubs to release their players to participate for the countries.

The Nigerians will also be fielding their strongest possible team, including Kwanku Kanu of Arsenal.

The Nigerian FA confirmed the game earlier this week with AFP and Burrell said that already the excitement is building in Lagos.

From Nigeria the Boyz, excluding the British-based players, will journey to Central American country, Belize, for that game. According to Burrell, 'the idea of playing Belize came about when Air Jamaica's regional director, Richard Lue, advised that they (Air Jamaica) would be opening this new route to Belize and wanted to commence it in a very special way.'

'Mr Lue said that one of the most talked about topics in Belize is the Reggae Boyz and on learning that they (Air Jamaica) were the sponsors of the Reggae Boyz, Belize requested the game.

'I immediately agreed. In addition to developing football, the Federation has a responsibility to our sponsors to do whatever we can to enhance their product of service. Air Jamaica currently provides the major sponsorship of transporting our teams across the world and had it not been for their assistance, the programme would have been in serious trouble,' Burrell argued.

JAMAICA DRAW 1-1 WITH GUATEMALA

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala -- Harbour View striker, Fabian Taylor, was on target as Jamaica's Reggae Boyz earned a 1-1 result away to Guatemala at the Estadio Cementos Progreso here last night.

Nine minutes earlier the home side had taken a fortuitous lead when skipper, Carlos Ruiz, netted from the penalty spot to rapturous applause from the sparsely populated crowd.

At various times throughout the game, the Boyz threatened to explode into quality football, particularly through the efforts of Winston Griffiths, Omar Daley and Fabian Taylor, but Jamaica lacked consistency.

The homesters were out of the blocks quickly, forcing goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts, into action from as early as the second minute.

And before five minutes had elapsed, Ruiz broke the offside trap and was one-on-one with Ricketts but he shot wide of the mark.

Jamaica gradually clawed their way back into the game and on nine minutes, striker Wolde Harris muffed an opportunity when he shot tamely at goalkeeper, Edgar Estrada, from the edge of the penalty area.

Guatemala were again fast out the blocks in the second half, but appeared to have benefited from the generosity of El Salvadoran referee, Nary Alfaro.

Ruiz, looking to be in an offside position, received a pass and darted towards goal. Ricketts advanced to challenge and after a collision, Alfaro pointed to the spot.

Ruiz picked himself up and made no mistake from the spot on 53 minutes.

The goal seemed to have energised the visitors and it was no surprise when Taylor hit back.

Prowling at the far post, the striker pounced on a left-sided corner from Irvino English and buried his effort to silence the crowd.

And in the final minute of play, substitute, Roen Nelson should have won the game for his team but he missed badly after Harris had driven a fierce free kick which substitute goalkeeper, Dany Ortiz could only block into his path.

Coach Carl Brown dentified the defence as the strong point , through Ian Goodison, Craig Ziadie and Linval Dixon. However, he was dissatisfied with the midfield. "They (midfielders) didn't play well as a unit and individually they didn't do well too," he argued.

Jamaica -- Donovan Ricketts, Linval Dixon (Kirk Hendricks 71st), Ian Goodison, Tyrone Marshall, Robert Scarlett (Irvino English 46th), Craig Ziadie, William Wilson (Thomas Grant 55th), Omar Daley (Roen Nelson 82nd), Winston Griffiths (Jonathan Williams 82nd), Fabian Taylor and Wolde Harris.

REGGAE GIRLS BOW OUT OF GOLD CUP

Jamaica’s Reggae Girls returned to the island on Monday afternoon after an unsuccessful campaign at the 2^nd CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States and Canada. The girls lost 0-2 to Costa Rica, 0-9 to Canada and 1-2 to Haiti. (Below is the official report from CONCACAF of the final game against Haiti.)

03.11.02 - A pair of goals from Marie-Denise Gilles gave Haiti bragging rights in the Caribbean with a 2:1 victory against Jamaica in their final FC Women's Gold Cup in Group 2 in Victoria, British Columbia.

Despite both having lost their first two matches, the island rivals still had a lot to play for, as no Caribbean side had yet won a contest in the Women's Gold Cup. Their regional rivalry was further inflamed after the two played a pair of hard-fought matches in qualifying, Jamaica eventually winning the tie 1:0 on aggregate.

But it was Haiti that had the better of the play in the first half, and deservedly took the lead after 12 minutes. Pharana Jean-Louis slipped a perfectly-weighted through ball behind the Jamaican defense, where Gilles outraced the defenders to go in alone on goalkeeper Nikkeshi Thomas. After a 20-meter run she coolly slipped the ball inside the right-hand post.

Jean-Louis then nearly doubled the score at the 30-minute mark. She sent a long, looping effort goalward that Thomas did well to tip over, racing back after nearly being caught off her line.

Jamaica came close to equalizing through a similar effort seconds later, Nicole Berwise's effort from 30 yards bouncing off the top of the bar with Haiti 'keeper Monique Alsaint almost caught out.

The Reggae Girlz started brighter in the second half, but Haiti struck first through Gilles, who ran onto a pass in the right side of the area and slotted home inside the far post past a static Thomas.

But Jamaica responded just two minutes later. A corner was swung in from the right and Alsaint fumbled the ball, Geneva Sinclair quickest to respond and poke it home from the crowded goalmouth.

With just five minutes left Jamaica were unlucky not to equalize. Another corner was not dealt with, and in the ensuing scramble twice the ball was poked toward the goal, both times bounding back off one of the host of defenders standing on the goal line.

Myrlande Teleus forced a fine save from Thomas in the dying seconds, her powerful shot on the run from 20 meters saved well, a fine punctuation point as the Haitians regained a measure of revenge.

HARBOUR VIEW CLOSE GAP ON LEADERS

Defending Champions and leaders Arnett Gardens and Hazard United played to an exciting 1-1 draw on Sunday, ensuring that the Champions maintain their lead in the Wray and Nephew Premier League.

Arnett Gardens now have 23 points, three ahead of a surging Harbour View who beat Tivoli Gardens 4-3 at Railway Oval. Hazard United are on 19 points.

Also on Sunday, Constant Spring and Wadadah played to a 0-0 draw at Jarrett Park, while Village defeated Rivoli 3-1 at Elletson Wakeland and Bull Bay and Seba United battled to a 2-2 result.

Reno and Waterhouse, meanwhile, battled to a 1-1 draw at Frome.

BURTON BACK WITH A GOAL

Jamaica international, Deon Burton, scored a late winner in a triumphant return to Derby County as they won their English first division match 2-1 over Sheffield United at Pride Park on Wednesday night.

In his first outing for the Rams since a loan spell with Portsmouth, Burton pounced for an 84th-minute goal that secured an important come-from-behind win for the struggling Derby, who were relegated from the premier league last season.

The 25 year-old Burton, who had scored a team-leading three goals for Portsmouth in early September when a fractured foot hastened his return to Derby, came into the game as a 74th-minute substitute for striker, Lee Morris.

The 1997 Sportsman-of-the-year grabbed the winner with a quality strike six minutes from the end.

After seeing an initial shot blocked by Robert Kozluk for a corner, Burton then got on the end of a headed pass by Ian Evatt to lash the ball into the back of the net. He had a chance to make it 3-1 in the final minute but narrowly missed a chip shot after spotting the goalkeeper off his line.

LOWE ALSO ON FORM

Onandi Lowe made the scoring headlines as he helped his team to wins ithe English third division football Tuesday night.

A brilliant long range shot from Lowe, his first goal in 10 games, gave Rushden & Diamonds a 1-0 win over Boston United.

Jamaican Lowe, picking up a loose ball, ended his scoring drought by firing a left-footed shot from 20 yards into the top corner in the 10th minute at Nene Park for his third goal of the season.

He almost scored again six minutes later when his 30-yard free-kick clipped the crossbar and earned high praises from team manager Brian Talbot.

"Some people have been criticising Onandi a bit unfairly I think because he deserves the respect he gained for himself last year when he single-handedly got us into the play-offs," Talbot said.

"He hasn't been scoring goals regularly this season but we always knew that he would find the net sooner or later. I don't know whether he will get as many goals as he did last year but he is a threat and he is a big danger," Talbot said.

Rushden & Diamonds moved up to third -- with 27 points -- in the standings to trail leaders Hartlepool (33) and Kidderminster (28).

SHAW SLAMS FULLER TRANSFER

Preston North End’s (English Division one) chairman Derek Shaw has blasted speculation linking Ricardo Fuller with January moves to the Premiership.

Jamaican striker Fuller again attracted attention in the press following his double that handed North End a derby victory over Burnley on Saturday - but Shaw insists it would take a huge bid to lure him away from Deepdale.

"As for Ricardo, obviously a player of his talent is going to be attracting attention. But that's all it is at the moment, there has been no enquiry from anyone," Shaw added in the Lancashire Evening Post.

"I don't want to start another saga about players being for sale or not for sale because there are occasions, as we all know, when it is difficult to keep them. But I can assure you we don't want to sell Ricardo - or any of our first team regulars.

"He is a marvellous player and at this moment he is our player on our contract. If anyone wants to prise him away from Deepdale they will have to bring an awful lot of money."

Reggae Boyz Supporterz Club, Inc.