Burrell

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, has encouraged the nation to come out in their numbers to witness the latest instalment of the region's biggest rivalry, when Jamaica's Reggae Boyz take on Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors at the National Stadium next Wednesday.

"It's always a keen rivalry when the teams meet. They have a tendency to play some of their best games, it's similar to when Brazil play Argentina," Burrell said.

Strongest squad

"They have sought to assemble their strongest possible squad because they are taking the game seriously and so are we. I would like to encourage the public to come out in their numbers and wear your colours, it's going to be a great game," he added.

Twelve overseas-based players, led by captain Ricardo Gardner of Bolton Wanderers, have been invited to take part in Wednesday's friendly. Joining Gardner are Marlon King (Wigan), Donovan Ricketts (Bradford City), Demar Phillips (Stoke City), Luton Shelton (Sheffield United), Omar Daley (Bradford City), Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers), Demar Stewart (Royal White Star, Belgium), Jamal Campbell-Rice (Barnsley), Oneil Thompson (Nottoden, Norway), Khari Stephenson (AIK Stockholm, Sweden) and Tyrone Marshall (Toronto FC).

The surprise recall has, how-ever, been forward Deon Burton - a hero of the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. The striker recently stumbled out of a bad patch for Champion-ship division team Sheffield Wednesday when he came off the bench to score twice against Queen's Park Rangers and again against Colchester.

The local contingent who will make up the final 23 will be announced at a press conference at the JFF headquarters this morning. Several of Jamaica's local-based players have recently returned from a successful two-week stint in Brazil with technical director Rene Simoes.

For Trinidad and Tobago, striker Kenwyne Jones of Sunderland will leave his teammate Nyron Nosworthy who has yet to receive a call up despite expressing the desire to represent Jamaica, to lead the T&T contingent. Jones will be accompanied by teammate Carlos Edwards, who has recently re-covered from injury.

Also included in the T&T squad are Collin Samuel (Toronto FC), Darryl Roberts (Sparta Rotterdam) and defender Osei Telesford (Chicago Fire). Several of the players represented Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 World Cup campaign.

In 30 games played between the teams so far, the edge has belonged to the Reggae Boyz who have won 13 games, with 11 going to the Soca Warriors, while six have ended in draws. Trinidad and Tobago are yet to win an away game against Jamaica.