Taylor to captain Reggae Boyz

Central defender Jermaine Taylor will captain the Jamaica senior football team when they line up in a friendly international against their Costa Rican counterparts at the National Stadium tomorrow, starting at 6 p.m.

The local-based Taylor, who also captains Digicel Premier League team St Georges Sports Club of Portland, is very experienced and has been a key member of the Reggae Boyz outfit for several years now.

The Costa Ricans are scheduled to arrive in the island this afternoon.

The last time the countries met was at the CONCACAF Gold Cup last year, when Costa Rica won 1-0 on a goal by midfielder Celso Borges, who will also be making the trip to Jamaica.

The Costa Ricans also have history on their side, having beaten Jamaica 10 times out of 19 matchups.

However, they will be playing a Jamaica team which has not lost at home since June in 2007.

The Central Americans will be travelling with a 22-man squad comprising several players who also play with members of the Jamaican team in domestic leagues.

Ten of the visiting players ply their trade in leagues outside of Costa Rica, such as the US Major League Soccer (MLS), Norway, Belgium and Poland.

The Costa Rican team will also include respected defender Roy Miller, who plays for New York Red Bulls in the MLS.

Miller will face clubmate Dane Richards, who is expected to feature in the Jamaican attack. Miller has been at New York for a few months now, while Richards has been at the club for three years.

Incidentally, it was Richards who helped the Costa Rican to settle into his new environment.

Overseas-based players

Richards is among more than 10 overseas-based players who have been summoned by head coach Theodore Whitmore for the clash.

Among them are Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy - USA), Shavar Thomas (Kansas City Wizards - USA), Ryan Johnson (San Jose Earthquates - USA), Omar Daley (Bradford City FC - UK), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids - USA), Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls - USA), Demar Phillips (Aalesund FC - Norway), Jason Morrison (Stromgodset IL - Norway), Luton Shelton (Valarenga FC - Norway), Nicholas Addlery (Puerto Rico Islanders) and Lovel Palmer (Houston Dynamo).

The referee for the match will be Trinidad and Tobago's Neil Brizan, while former FIFA referee Charles Barrett is the match commissioner.