THE Reggae Boyz will be back in action this afternoon when they take on an Eastern Confederation All-Star team at the Drax Hall playfield at 3:30.
This game is the only one the national team will have before its World Cup qualifier against El Salvador on August 16 and Jamaica's team today will be missing a number of regulars.
What this game will provide for technical director Clovis de Oliveira is a chance to look at a number of players who were either not in the system, played at the youth level or were injured and they would want to impress with a good showing. Included among them are Under-17 World Cuppers Eshaya Bryan (midfield), Shane Stevens (midfield); Under-23 representatives and one-time national squad members Ray Graham and Shane Crawford.
Raymond Smith of Major League champions Duhaney Park earned a brief call under former technical director Sebastiao Lazaroni while defender Kirk Hendricks of Wadadah is a first-time invitee. Tivoli Gardens' striker Christopher Nicholas is returning from injury.
For the Eastern Confederation a game under the watchful eyes of de Oliveira is a rare opportunity for some to show what abilities they do have and they would not want to let the chance pass them by. An impressive show could earn an invitation a little later in the campaign.
Despite the absence of the likes of Onandi Lowe, Deon Burton, Walter Boyd, Theodore Whitmore, Ian Goodison, Darryl Powell, Andy Williams and Tyrone Marshall, the Boyz are still expected to field a strong team. Players such as defender Claude Davis and midfielder Jermaine Johnson have been knocking on the door for a first team place and could use this opportunity to further remind the coach.
Other players such as Kevin Deerr, Fabian Taylor, Jermaine Hue and Dwayne Richards will want to convince the coach they deserve to be a part of the squad's supporting cast.
Jamaica's squad: Donovan Ricketts, Aaron Lawrence, Linval Dixon, Claude Davis, Fabian Davis, Shavar Thomas, Christopher Dawes, Johnson, Hue, Stephen Malcolm, Fabian Taylor, Deerr, Richards, Bryan, Smith, Graham, Crawford, Hendricks and Nicholas.
Eastern Confederation squad: Rohan McQueen, Desmond Breakenridge, Loraine Beckford, Oneil Henderson, Fitzroy Orsmby, Floyd Bailey, Roy Chung, Howard McKenzie, Omar Brissett. Jermain Green, Bryan Dawkins, Rohan Pyne, Caloin Pottenger, Ricardo Perry, Sekou Williams, Craig Gordon, Dwight Moore, Sedrick Chin and Vinton Barkley.
