FOLLOWING their encouraging 1-1 draw with Caribbean rivals Cuba, it is back to business again for the Reggae Boyz who take on another Caribbean neighbour, Barbados, this evening at 8:00.
Tonight's game should be just as tough if not tougher for the Boyz as their opponents are also into the semi-final round of the Football Confederation (FC) Zone of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. The Bajans progressed by beating the Cubans 5-4 on penalties after ending 1-1 in their final group game to decide the automatic qualifiers for the next stage.
Besides the victory over Cuba and the fact the Bajans have been in training for a much longer period than the Boyz, they should also bear in mind the eastern Caribbean team includes a number of professionals playing in the lower leagues in England. Chief among them is seasoned captain Gregory Goodridge who should lead his country's attack.
Historically, matches between the teams have been tough but Jamaica have managed to win the past two. In March 1996 they met in Bridgetown, Barbados, in a World Cup qualifier where Walter Boyd snatched a 90th minute winner. Three months later, the Bajans journeyed to Jamaica but were cut down by a strike each from Boyd and Theodore Whitmore.
On Sunday, Boyd and Whitmore showed glimpses of their potential and will want to get on the scoresheet tonight. The only trouble is that they are operating at less than 100 per cent. Whitmore seems the more injured of the two as he appeared to aggravate a hamstring injury which has troubled him since the beginning of the year.
For tonight's game, Jamaica could field a team close to Sunday's starting team with Andy Williams replacing Darryl Powell in midfield. If Whitmore and Christopher Dawes, who limped off on Sunday, do not start then the colourful new boy Jamie Lawrence could start in either central midfield or on the right.
Jamaica's possible line up: Donovan Ricketts (goalkeeper), Tyrone Marshall (right back), Fitzroy Simpson (left back), Onandi Lowe, Linval Dixon, Ian Goodison (central defenders); Dawes or Lawrence, Williams, Whitmore or Lawrence or Johnson (midfielders); Deon Burton, Walter Boyd (forwards).
Barbados, who were due in at 6:30 last night, will choose their team from: Jerry Alexander, Larry Alleyne, Neil Bovell, Adrian Chase, Ricardo Coombs, Michael and Norman Forde, Goodridge, Elvin Griffith, Rudolph Grosvenor, John Hawkesworth, Shane Marks, John Parris, Ismnael Primus, Llewellyn Riley, Wayne Sobers, Horace Stoute, Johnathan Starker, Ryan Lucas and Romelle Burgess.
