Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

Interim coach Carl Brown

Eight days before the Reggae Boyz play their first match since being swamped 6-0 by England in a pre-World Cup friendly, the Jamaica Football Federation is still to finalise their squad.

The Reggae Boyz meet Canada in the first of a home and away friendly series on Monday, September 4, and according to recently installed interim coach Carl Brown it has been a difficult process getting the squad together. Brown said he is hopeful of having a squad released today.

"We are having a little problem in that a number of the players that we are trying to get will not come," Brown told The Gleaner yesterday. "Even locally we are having problems. Some of the players that we were hoping to have we understand are still in New York," he added.

No weekend games

With Monday, September 4 being a date recognised by FIFA for friendlies, players in the English Premiership and the Championship will not have any games on the weekends but teams playing in lower leagues will not have that luxury.

"Some of them who play in England will have a game on September 2. It makes no sense to have them play on the Saturday, then fly to Jamaica to fly to Canada on Sunday for the game. It makes no sense," explained Brown who added that players born in Jamaica would require a Canadian visa, which time would not allow.

Among those who are set to miss the match because of a Saturday game are goalkeeper and captain Donovan Ricketts, Jermaine Johnson and Jamal Campbell-Ryce. Ricardo Fuller and Damion Stewart who play in the Championship will make the trip while Claude Davis is injured.

Getting national representatives based in the United States to play in this game is not any easier.

"Tyrone Marshall has just come back from an injury so the club has asked us not select him. Andy Williams we have sent something off to but we have not had a response as yet." added Brown .

The story is no different with the Jamaicans based in Sweden. Luton Shelton was ruled out by a midweek injury while Jermaine Hue's club has, like Marshall's, requested that he not be invited. The other two, midfielder Khari Stephenson and forward Teofore Bennett are available, however.