We need to be committed – Hall
• Coach questions England-based players who declined call-ups for national duty• Turns focus on players who ‘will jump at the opportunity’
Published:Wednesday | March 23, 2022 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
NATIONAL SENIOR men’s interim coach Paul Hall has questioned the commitment of some of the England-based players in pulling out of call-ups for the final three games of the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Speaking yesterday at the pre-game press conference for tomorrow’s game against El Salvador at the National Stadium, Hall addressed the reasons some of the England-based players were not available for the March window.
Six members of the England-based contingent were named to the 24-man squad released on Monday with notable omissions from Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, Rangers Kemar Roofe, Bournemouth’s Jamal Lowe and West Ham’s Michail Antonio.
While not giving specifics about the reasons some had declined the call-ups, Hall said he was not satisfied and is demanding commitment from all players to the national cause if they are to play for Jamaica.
“I feel some of the reasons the players that pulled out have been disappointing and I’m not here about who has pulled out because there were plenty of reasons for me to talk about the ones who are and who want to be here. Like I said before, this is about commitment. And we can only move forward with those who want to help us and who want to be here,” Hall said.
NO TIME TO WASTE
Hall confirmed that Antonio was due to be called up for this window but did not disclose the reasons why he decided not to accept the call-up. Antonio played in West Ham’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday despite suffering an injury on March 13 against Aston Villa. However, Hall has reiterated that he would not waste time on anyone who was not committed to the national cause.
“Let me be clear, we need to be committed as individuals and as a group, if we are going to start achieving things, if we are going to start moving up the rankings, start winning Nations Leagues, start winning Gold Cups. We have to put Jamaica first and that is key. I will not renege on anybody who doesn’t put Jamaica first,” Hall said.
Hall’s squad includes local-based players, including first-time call-ups for Cavalier’s Christopher Pearson and Harbour View’s Tarick Ximines. Hall says he hopes that the new faces will take the chance to be a part of the future.
“We have managed to replace those guys with persons who will jump at the opportunity and I hope that they jump at it and make the ones who are not here have to fight to come back in because I want it to be a fight to stay in this unit,” Hall said. “Because that is the only way how we’ll get better.”