Jamaica's striker Walter Boyd (left) and Deon Burton arrive yesterday in El Salvador for their World Cup qualifier match. -La PrensaSAN SALVADOR -
A PLACE in the final round of the CONCACAF Zone of the World Cup qualifiers (group of six) is already in the bag for the Reggae Boyz but that will be of no concern when they take the field this evening at 8:30 (Jamaica time) against El Salvador at the Flor Blanca (White Flower) Stadium.
Tonight's game will be serious business, according to technical director Clovis de Oliveira. No experiments will take place, no second 11 will be fielded as the purpose is to get all three points.
"To be frank with you, I am not thinking about that (playing fringe players). Always I play the strongest team. We did not come here for a friendly, for a test. We came here to get a positive result," de Oliveira said.
"I do not know if we will get it because it will be tough but we came to get a positive result because it is going to help us to lift the morale of the players," he said.
Since the last time the teams met, a number of far-reaching changes have taken place in Salvadoran football which, to the casual observer, could make them a weaker bunch. Former coach Oscar Benitez quit, allowing his assistant Carlos Recinos to take over. Recinos has overhauled the team leaving just six squad members from the last occasion the teams met and two starters.
Out of the running are midfield general Mauricio Cienfuegos and his striking sidekick Raul Diaz Arce. Also out is another key player, Ronald Cerritos, a victim of the rebuilding process.
Defender Jorge Humberto Rodriquez of the Dallas Burns, the sole overseas-based player in the squad, and goalkeeper Juan Jose Gomez are the only two starters to remain. Eight players if they start will earn their first cap.
El Salvador is not the only team in a spot of bother as two key midfielders, Darryl Powell and Jamie Lawrence, who were due to be a part of the Jamaican party, did not make the trip due to club problems and injuries. The absence of these two could force the coach to shuffle his squad even more.
Already he was expected to make a number of changes as four starters from the previous game, sweeper Shavar Thomas, leftback Steve Malcolm, midfielder Andy Williams and forward Onandi Lowe, the team's leading goalscorer, will miss this game because of suspensions.
With Thomas out, Chris Dawes who played the central midfield role in the last game was expected to sweep with Ricardo Gardner automatically filling in for Malcolm while one or two of Lawrence and Powell would step into the midfield for Dawes and Williams.
Their absence now leaves more shuffling for de Oliveira but he is confident he will sort it out.
"We have been playing without both of them (Powell and Lawrence) since the qualifiers began and it is going to be a big opportunity for me to add something else and we have not decided yet. We decide tomorrow before the game. I have some planning to do but I am very confident and happy with the group I have," he said.
The team was due to train last night for the first time since its arrival. At that training session the fitness of Walter Boyd and Theodore Whitmore would be determined. However, both are expected to start.
Possible starting teams: Jamaica - Donovan Ricketts, Linval Dixon, Ian Goodison, Marco McDonald, Ricardo Gardner, Tyrone Marshall, Chris Dawes, Theodore Whitmore, Jermaine Johnson, Deon Burton and Walter Boyd.
El Salvador - Juan Jose Gomez, William Osorio, Daniel Sagastizado, Jorge Rodriguez, Elmer Martinez Gomez, Jaime Bladimir Cubias, Juan Carlos Padilla, Hector Aaron Canjura, Santos Dagoberto Cabrera, Alfredo Perez and Fredy Vichez Gonzalez.
By Nodley Wright
Staff Reporter
