As the team celebratess victory, Jamaica's captain Tyrone Marshall raises the Digicel Caribbean Championship trophy above his head, after collecting the main prize when his team beat Grenada 2-0 in the final at the National Stadium on Sunday night. He is flanked by Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell (left) and Caribbean Football Union and CONCACAF president, Austin 'Jack' Warner, while Kieran Foley, head of sponsorships at Digicel, holds a placard denoting the winners' cheque. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Reggae Boyz coach John Barnes and captain Tyrone Marshall expressed delight at winning the Digicel Caribbean Championship, which ended on Sunday at the National Stadium.

The Boyz, who will turn their attention to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be held in the USA next year, defeated Grenada 2-0 in the final and according to Barnes, who took over the reins at the start of the championship from interim coach, Theodore Whitmore, it was a great feeling.

"The guys played a wonderful tournament and while there were some areas of concern, they delivered on the most important thing, the trophy. It's a great feeling, as led by the players and the coaching staff, we were able to come together and work as a unit for national pride," said Barnes, who was born and bred in Jamaica, before migrating to England where he represented Liverpool and his adopted country.

"It's a wonderful set of guys and if we can continue to put in the work, we can do great things for this country and I look forward to the future with great delight," he added.

Competitive match-up

Jamaica's Luton Shelton (centre) is challenged by Grenada's Anthony Modeste during the final of the Digicel Caribbean Championships, at the National Stadium on Sunday. Luton scored two penalties to hand Jamaica a 2-0 victory. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

After a controlled first half display and a highly competitive second half in which Grenada held the upper hand, the Boyz got the better of the Spice Boyz with a brace from in-form striker, Luton Shelton, who converted two penalties at the 16th and 69th minutes. The penalties were created by Championship MVP, Eric Vernan who, using his pace and skill to good effect, was brought down.

Marshall said the victory restored some respect.

"I thought we did a wonderful job in winning the tournament. Not qualifying for the final round of qualifiers of the World Cup, we knew that support was not going to be the best. But we knew that at the end of the day, we needed to win the tournament to get a little a respect."

He added: "Hats off to Grenada. They played a very good game. They have been playing well throughout the championships and I thought they were one of the better organised teams in the cham-pionship. They played with a lot of unity, worked hard and showed fight. They defeated us earlier in the year, but we were not going to allow that to happen again. But congrats to them. I wish them all the best in their future endeavours."

Anthony Modeste, the Grenadians player/coach and captain, said even though they lost, they were proud of their achievement.

"We don't feel like losers, we feel like winners. We have no reason to feel ashamed as we did ourselves proud," said Modeste, who is also captain of Digicel Premier League champions, Portmore United.

"Thanks to Digicel for organising such a wonderful tournament. Thanks to Captain Burrell and the JFF (Jamaica Football Federation), the accommodation was splendid."

He added: "To coach Barnes and captain Tyrone Marshall congrats. I think you are worthy champions. If Grenada could not lift it, I personally would not like no one else to lift it but Jamaica. We gave a good account of ourselves. No one gave us a chance at the start of the tournament to make the final four, much less the final.

"We have proved the doubting Thomases wrong and prove that football in the Caribbean is not far apart. Once you are dedicated and the players stick to it, anything can happen. Hats off to the players of the Grenada team, we did a wonderful job," said Modeste.

Jamaica took home the Digicel Championships Trophy, the first place cash award of US$120,000 and its players and coaching staff got gold medals, while Grenada earned $70,000 and silver medals.

Barnes