Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

JAMAICA'S NATIONAL Under-17 footballers will be hunting one of three places to the FIFA World Cup in South Korea in August and should achieve that feat.

The last time Jamaica reached the Under-17 World Cup was in 1999 and that time Jamaica also hosted the final qualifying round.

With that in mind, Jamaica's coach, David Hunt, thinks the young Reggae Boyz's chances are just as good.

"The only time that the national Under-17 team qualified for a World Cup was when it was played in Jamaica in 1999, so we have history on our side," said Hunt.

"We implore the Jamaican public to come out and really support these young players because I feel they will make Jamaica proud," he said.

"It is going to be a tough task but I think we are prepared. The squad has been together for two years. They have played roughly 17 internationals, so come April 28 they will be as ready as they ever will be," said Hunt.

Recently, the young Reggae Boyz played a two-game series against the reigning world champions Mexico, winning one 2-0 while drawing the other 1-1.

It was the first time a Jamaican team haddefeated a world champion.

Last year, Jamaica finished fourth in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Youth Cup behind Mexico, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica started the tournament with impressive victories - defeating Cuba 2-1, Bahamas 6-2 and Dominica 8-0.

They advanced to the final stage and crushed Canada 3-0, drew with Panama 1-1 before losing to Mexico 2-1.

In the third-place play-off, they lost to Trinidad and Tobago 2-0.

The likes of goalscoring captain Dever Orgill, Andre Steele, John Ross Doyley, Christopher Banner, Jermaine Jarrett, Yannick Salmon, Adrian Christian, Ackeem Henry, Kenniel Hyde and Kabari Palmer should make Jamaica proud.

The squad: Adrian Christian, Akeem Brown, Andre Blake, Andre Steele, Christopher Banner, Christopher Waugh, Damaine Thompson, Dever Orgill, John Ross Doyley, Kabari Palmer, Kenneil Hyde, Marvin Boothe, McKaully Tulloch, Noel Mais, Oneil Wilson, Peter Beckford, Shamari Brown, Shavor Brown, Yannick Salmon, Jermain Jarrett.

FIXTURES

(All games at National Stadium)

Saturday, April 28

5:00 p.m. - Costa Rica vs Trinidad and Tobago

7:00 p.m. - Jamaica vs Canada

Monday, April 30

5:00 p.m. - Canada vs Costa Rica

7:00 p.m. - Trinidad and Tobago vs United States

Wednesday, May 2

5:00 p.m. - United States vs Canada

7:00 p.m. - Jamaica vs Costa Rica

Friday, May 4

5:00 p.m. - Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago

7:00 p.m. - Jamaica vs United States

Sunday, May 6

5:00 p.m. - United States vs Costa Rica

7:00 p.m. - Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago

Admission (grandstand only): $400. Students with ID: $200.