Canada due today for clashes with U-17 Boyz

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The Canadian national Under-17 team is scheduled to arrive in the island today to tackle their Jamaican counterparts in a two-match series, as both teams intensify their preparations for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF) World Cup qualifiers.

The first game will be played tomorrow and the second on Tuesday. Both games will be played at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay, and are slated to commence at 5 p.m.

Following on his public commitment to facilitate the best possible preparation for the national team, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, said: "We have every intention of not just hosting a successful event in February, but also giving our team the best chance to be among the four teams qualifying out of the tournament.

"We know that practice games, especially against international teams, are an important way to sharpen our team's preparation," Burrell added.

Canad's ntional head coach, Sean Fleming, is looking forward to the two-game series.

"We look forward to our matches against Jamaica. Jamaica have always had good teams and we expect these to be great matches," he declared.

"It is good for our team to be able to come to Jamaica before the CONCACAF men's Under-17 Championship in February. These international matches are critical for our development as a team," Fleming added.

Canada and Jamaica will play in the 12-nation CONCACAF U-17 Men's Championship, which will be held in western Jamaica from February 12-28, 2011.

Previous qualification

Jamaica only qualified on one previous occasion (1999) for this age-group competition, while Canada have qualified on four prior instances (1987, 1989, 1993, and 1995).

Jamaica's 26 members squad includes: Goalkeepers - Ahkeim Forbes (Munro College), Odean Clarke (Muschett High), Nico Campbell (St George's College); Defenders - Kemo Wallace (Wolmer's), Romario Thompson (St Elizabeth Technical High School - STETHS), Oraine Tomlinson (Clarendon College), Johvan Christopher (Seaforth High), Zhelano Barnes (Excelsior High), Tazio Gilpin (Kingston College - KC); Midfielders - Patrick Palmer (Wolmer's), Troy Moo-Penn (Manchester High), Omar Holness (Wolmer's), Kaya Beckford (Glenmuir High), Alvis Powell (Paul Bogle), Kaneil Harrison (Munro), Andre Lewis (St George's), Romario Jones (St George's), Neiko Taylor (Cornwall), Kyle Cummings (Clarendon), Delroy Miller (Manchester High) and Melvin Blair (Mannings High); Forwards - Demoy Orgill (Titchfield High), Romario Williams (KC), Jorginho James (KC), Jason Wright (Wolmer's) and Javanie Mitchell (Tivoli Gardens High).

Five of the members of the Canadian squad are part of the Toronto FC's Academy programme, three are engaged in the Montreal Impact's Academy, while four involved in the Vancouver Whitecaps' Residency Programme.

Canada's 21 members squad includes: Goalkeepers - Maxime Crépeau, Xander Huggins, Quillan Roberts; Defenders - Ismaïl Benomar, Adam Polakiewicz, Parker Seymour, Daniel Stanese; Midfielders - Bryce Alderson, Keven Aleman, Dylan Carreiro, Jay Chapman, Luca Gasparotto, Ryan James, Omari Morris, Christopher Nanco, Matteo Pasquotti, Samuel Piette and Marco Lapenna; Forwards - Jalen Brome, Wesley Cain, Sadi Jalali.