By Paul-André Walker, Staff Reporter
Members of Jamaica's senior football team stretch during a workout at the National Stadium, yesterday afternoon, in preparation for their warm-up game against Uruguay tomorrow. - Ricardo Makyn / Staff Photographer
MOST OF the overseas-based members of Jamaica's senior football squad were in training yesterday afternoon at 'The Office', preparing for a "tough fight" in their big 6:30 p.m. warm-up match tomorrow against South America's Uruguay.
"We know that the Uruguayans are a tough team with quality players. They stand at fourth in the South American World Cup qualification zone and they are two-time world champions but we are prepared for the tough fight," said Brown.
Michael Johnson, Andy Williams, Craig Ziadie, Tyrone Marshall, Donovan Ricketts, Micah Hyde, Onandi Lowe, Jermaine Johnson, Claude Davis, Richard Langley and Ricardo Fuller all arrived on Sunday night for tomorrow's big warm-up game against South American team Uruguay.
One other overseas-based player was due last night, defensive strongman Ian Goodison.
The overseas-based cast will be complemented by locals Cornel Chin-Sue, Gerald Neil, Jonathan Williams, Fabian Davis, Damion Stewart, Aaron Lawrence and Garfield Reid, as Fabian Taylor, the National Premier League's top marksman, is injured.
There are several others on the injured list too, Ricardo Gardner who just completed a second knee surgery, Darren Byfield, who picked up a hamstring injury two days ago and regular captain Theodore Whitmore.
When the whistle sounds to start the game tomorrow, part of the Reggae Boyz goal against the two-time world champions, Uruguay, is to get fans recommitted to the national programme.
Starting his tenure with the announcement that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was broke, the administration of new president Crenston Boxhill faces an uphill battle.
In order to turn that situation around, the JFF needs to get the support of the country firmly behind them as was the case during the Road to France campaign six years ago when Jamaica could not lose inside the Stadium.
"We really need the public... I mean this is a World Cup qualification year," were the words of national technical director Carl Brown yesterday.
Both teams will be using the match for that purpose, the Uruguayans already in their schedule and fourth in South American qualifying.
The Reggae Boyz will kick off their campaign for Germany 2006 near mid-June.
Asked if the failure of the Under-23s to qualify for the Olympics had placed additional burden on the coaching staff, Brown responded thus:
"Why do people keep dwelling on the Under-23s. This is not the first time that we have lost three games in the Olympic qualifiers."
He added: "People can say what they like, my job is on the field and that is all I'll focus on.
"These are the seniors and we need to give them our support," he added.
In the meantime, 16 members of the Uruguay contingent arrived in the island shortly after noon yesterday. Only six players were among them, all from local clubs in Uruguay.
The vast majority of their squad, including stars Diego Forlan of Manchester United and Alvaro Recoba of Inter Milan, were due last night.
They seemed undaunted by the prospect that lay ahead of them, a sentiment that was put in words by their match agent, Alex Gutman.
"This is a strong team and I'm sure they can do well," he said.
The Uruguayan added: "This will be a good opportunity for the Jamaican football team because they will have the opportunity to play against one of the top teams in the world with players from the best clubs in the world."
