Richards (left) and Shelton are expected to lead the Reggae Boyz strike force against Ecuador in today's match. - file photos

New Jersey, United States:

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will take their first step towards becoming a revamped, more youthful football force tonight when they tackle Ecuador in a friendly international here at Giants Stadium.

Match time is 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Ja. time).

Following a disappointing CONCACAF Gold Cup run in the US last month, when a full-strength Jamaica squad bowed out in the group stages, managing a single win while scoring one goal, the Boyz have announced a new direction.

Even with the absence of several senior overseas-based players on club committments, primarily in the English leagues, the plan is to inject some fresh faces into the team as part of an overhaul with future major competitions in mind.

Rebuilding programme

Ugly reports of indiscipline among the Boyz, which surfaced at the region's top tournament, including the sending home of one player, also contributed to the change of thinking.

"We've started our rebuilding programme," said Jamaica's coach Theodore Whitmore yesterday afternoon. "We're looking for more discipline and more organisation."

According to Whitmore, the team is willing to suffer through teething pains if necessary.

"We're gonna play some games," he said. "We're gonna win some, we're gonna lose some. Some we might share the points. But all in all we just want to go out there and give a good performance; don't get embarrassed."

Among those who will be gone from future national consideration are stalwarts like Tyrone Marshall and Ian Goodison.

"Basically, we have one or two young players, like Dane Richards and Luton Shelton who will carry on with a couple other players."

Richards, especially will be anxious to make his mark after being restricted to a second half substitute's performance at the Gold Cup. Being a member of New York Red Bulls of US Major League Soccer, he will also be playing in front of his home crowd.

"I look forward to playing a great role in the upcoming, rebuilding of the Reggae Boyz," said the 25-year-old Richards. "... We have a great group of young guys. (Tonight) we're all gonna see what we're made of because Ecuador is a team ... They are no easy team, so hopefully we can put up a good show, be competitive and get something from this game and the coach will see where we stand."

Standing in Jamaica's way will be an Ecuador team still in the mix to qualify for World Cup 2010 from the competitive South America group.

Ecuador have beaten the likes of Argentina (2-0 in June) and drawn with Brazil to be fifth in the CONMEBOL group.

Only meeting

Jamaica have played Ecuador once at the senior level, losing 1-2 away in a friendly international on October 4, 1996. However, the teams met in the final of the 2007 Pan Am Games, with the Under-20 Boyz going down 1-2. Dwayne Miller, Eric Vernan and Keammar Daley, currently senior squad members, were part of Jamaica's Pan Am team. Ecuador's coach then was Sixto Vizuete. He is currently in charge of the senior team and said he is "happy to face Jamaica again".

Apart from the big scalps Ecuador have taken in World Cup qualifiers, the coach believes his team is gelling at the right time.

"(Ecuador) is a very disciplined team for attack and defending in any moment of the game," he said through a translator yesterday. "... They have a lot of mental strength and that makes it easier for the technical staff and the coach."

Whitmore expects Ecuador to be a typical South American team, "very fighting and hard running".

He is also eager to put the ghosts of the disappointing Gold Cup - where he suffered his first losses as the senior national coach - behind him although the lessons learnt are still fresh.

"I don't want to dwell too much on the Gold Cup," said Whitmore. "It was very disappointing. We went into the Gold Cup with a fairly good squad, but again, good squads don't guarantee good performance. It all went down to committment and I didn't think everybody was committed to the cause. That's where we went wrong. So, again, we have to put that behind us and see where we went wrong and move on."

The new journey starts tonight.

Jamaica (from): Dwayne Miller, Shawn Sawyers, Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Taylor, Demar Phillips, Rafe Wolfe, Eric Vernan, Dicoy Williams, Richard Edwards, Jason Morrison, Khari Stephenson, Lovel Palmer, Dane Richards, Luton Shelton, Omar Cummings, Navion Boyd, Keammar Daley and Devon Hodges.

Whitmore ... we're looking for more discipline.