Whitmore

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa:

The training sessions contained just about all the ingredients for Jamaica's coach Theodore Whitmore. There was no shortage of purpose, energy and spirit. And there were plenty of goals.

There is stiff competition among the Reggae Boyz for a place in the starting team for tomorrow's showdown against South Africa at the Free State Stadium (Vodacom Park) and the coach is liking it.

"As you saw from the training session we had this afternoon, everybody is upbeat and ready," Whitmore noted following their first full and serious practice since arriving in South Africa on Friday night.

Next morning, rest and more travelling followed as the team headed on to Bloemfontein, where they held a light training session in the evening, before having another light session yesterday morning in the pool.

Main concern

"My main concern now is the goalkeepers," noted an obviously pleased Whitmore. "Shawn (Sawyers) is suffering from an ankle injury and Miller (Dwayne) is suffering from a shoulder injury."

As the teammates gave no quarter, Sawyers picked up an injury after clearing a through ball aimed at the speedy Dane Richards, as the forward's boot clipped his foot on the follow through. Miller, meanwhile, had been carrying an injury from the premier league. Both said they will be ready for tomorrow's match against Bafana Bafana.

"It feels sore now because it just happened and the time is cold," said Sawyers, his left ankle wrapped with ice.

Asked if the injury could see him miss the game, he quickly replied "no, no, no".

Miller, with ice strapped to his right shoulder, was equally positive.

"It's coming on, it's just a bit tender."

Such eagerness had earlier been borne out in the session when Bryan Bayliss limped off following a challenge with Jermaine Johnson. After some treatment by Dr Mark Sanderson and icing, he was back in the session before the day was done.

Major objective

Commenting on the major objective of the drills, Whitmore said "much of the focus of the session was geared around shooting practice".

Also, he couldn't hide how impressed he was with the shooting of Johnson.

"It's a long time I haven't seen Jermaine Johnson in this type of mood."

The Sheffield Wednesday attacking midfielder said he was trying to set an example for the younger members of the squad.

"The youths are around me and I want them to see me doing good and be motivated to go out there and do well. So, I went out there and did my best," added Johnson, one of three members of the squad who joined the team in South Africa from Europe.

The others are Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Jason Morrison.

Jamaica will hold their final training session before the match today.

"The training tomorrow (today) is basically on set pieces to go into tomorrow night's game," noted Whitmore, who will be looking to attack the South Africans.

"As they say the best form of defence is attack," Whitmore remarked.

Maintain a balance

Whitmore, though, pointed out that the Jamaicans will have to maintain a balance and "get it right at both ends" against Bafana Bafana, who drew the first of a two-game practice series 0-0 against Japan on Saturday.

Asked to comment on the South African performance and his chances, Whitmore said: "You couldn't use that to judge, we've to do what we've to do.

"It'll be a different game. The South Africa team is very sound at the back but when they're going forward, they're in disarray."

Focusing on his team, he added: "So far, the mood I'm getting is they're ready and I'm hoping that on the day, they'll take it into the game and we'll get a positive result."