Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Jamaica's technical director, René Simoes, is in a no-nonsense mood during a training session yesterday at Winchester Park, St George's College. - photo by LeVaughn Flynn

WHILE ADMITTING there are a number of things to be ironed out, national technical director Rene Simoes is satisfied with preparations so far, as the Reggae Boyz get ready for an impromptu trip to the Azteca Stadium, where they face, Mexico in the semi-final round of the World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

Switched

Originally a home game for the Reggae Boyz, the fixture against Mexico had to be switched as the National Stadium would not have been ready to host the fixture, due to the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.

While the team has had to make haste in its preparations for the unexpected trip to Mexico, the Brazilian does not believe it will be a big problem.

Adjustments

"We have to be ready. The players must adjust. This is not a book that you study and expect things to happen in theory, it is real life and you have to make adjustments," Simoes said.

"There a few things that we need to work on in terms of some of the technical aspects of the game but we will be ready," he said.

Jamaica captain Ricardo Gardner sat out yesterday's training session with a minor injury, while midfielder Andrew Williams is yet to join the team, having been delayed with personal issues.

While Simoes expects Gardner to be a starter for the fixture, Williams is in doubt, as he will have had limited preparation with the team by the time he joins the squad today.

The team will leave the island tomorrow for Mexico City and will not return to Jamaica until after the next World Cup qualifier against Honduras, which will take place on September 10.

Early leaders

Following a 2-1 win over Honduras, Mexico are the early leaders in the 'Group of Death' followed by Jamaica and Canada, who played their way to a 1-1 draw at the BMO Stadium in Toronto. Honduras are yet to get off the mark.

Jamaica are now scheduled to host Mexico at the National Stadium on October 11.