Brazil tour was 'ideal preparation' - Downswell

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

After six weeks of intense preparation in Brazil, Jamaica's Under-17 footballers, led by head coach Wendell Downswell, arrived in the island yesterday full of confidence ahead of the CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifiers, which will held be from February 14-27 in Montego Bay.

Four groups of three teams will contest the qualification series, and the Jamaicans, who were drawn in Group C of the tournament, will play alongside archrivals Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala.

Group A consists of Costa Rica, El Salvador and Haiti; Group B has the United States, Panama and Cuba; and Group D comprises Honduras, Canada and Barbados.

"The confidence level is pretty high and we will have to maintain this because there is a lot we have learned in Brazil and it's just for them now to manifest it in a positive way," said Downswell in an interview with The Gleaner at the Norman Manley International Airport, following the team's arrival.

"I think that we could consider this as the ideal preparation because in the six weeks we have played 10 games, we won three, we drew two and lost five," he said.

"However, for me, we haven't lost a game in Brazil because I think, overall, it was a tremendous experience for both the staff and the players. I think that every game that we played we met our objectives despite the scoreline that it might reflect, and that kept the youngsters very focused on the task at hand."

He added that his players are now physically prepared and mentally focused on the task ahead of them.

"I think that they have responded in a very positive way as it relates to what they did in Brazil," Downswell said. "We used the first three weeks to do some functional work in terms of setting the foundation and the trainer (André) Waugh did an excellent job in terms of the physical capacity of the players, despite the injuries some of our boys suffered on the tour," he said.

Extension

Downswell also commended Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, and General Secretary Horace Reid for extending the camp from three to six weeks.

"I am very happy that the federation has done this for the youngsters because I think this a step in the right direction," Downswell said. "I think that having gotten that level of preparation, it is just for us now to fulfil our objectives and we are very confident that things will fulfil themselves in a very positive way."

He added: "The manner in which the youngsters responded in those three weeks was amazing, and this has also done a lot in terms of their confidence, and we are really looking forward to doing some good things as it relates to qualifying for the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico."

The junior Reggae Boyz will play two friendly international games against the United States, on January 27 and 30, at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.

"It is also ideal that we have two (practice) games against the United States, and this is a good platform for them to showcase what they have learnt in Brazil, and so, hopefully, we will let things manifest themselves in a positive way," Downswell pointed out.