Cummings listed among invitees to Venezuela clash

International football will return to the western end of the island when the Reggae Boyz host Venezuela in a friendly at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on March 25th in an 8 p.m. encounter.

Among the overseas invitees for the Venezuelan friendly and the away match-up against El Salvador two days later is Omar Cummings, who is considered among the leading strikers in the United States' Major League Soccer (MLS).

Other overseas invitees such as Khari Stephenson, Dane Richards, Jermaine Taylor, Shavar Thomas, Luton Shelton, Kavin Bryan, Dwayne Miller, Rudolph Austin and Dwayne Kerr have all been confirmed and will arrive in the island next week.

Both teams will be using the game to prepare for major tournaments, which should result in a keenly-contested match.

The Jamaicans are in the process of preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, starting June 5, and the Venezuelans are preparing for the Copa America tournament, which starts July 1 in Argentina. Venezuela will face Brazil, Paraguay and Ecuador in their group.

The Reggae Boyz will be looking to improve significantly in the Gold Cup this year, having been booted early in their last appearance

Actually, Jamaica's best showing in the Gold Cup was third place, which was shared with Costa Rica all the way back in 1993.

Venezuela sharpened their skills against two-time world champions Argentina on March 16, before journeying to Jamaica.

third meeting

This will mark the third meeting between the 48th-ranked Jamaicans and the 63rd-ranked Venezuelans. The teams enter the contest with honours even, as the first meeting between the then Rene Simoes-coached Boyz and their counterparts on February 12, 1997 here at 'The Office' ended in a nil-all draw.

In 2003 the Boyz journeyed to Caracas, Venezuela, at the El Estadio Olimpico to do battle 2,000 feet above sea-level and suffered a 2-0 loss.

They would get their revenge a year later when the Venezuelans revisited 'The Office'. The Boyz emerged 2-1 winners, thanks to a debut goal from Marlon King and an Andy Williams strike. The visitors got their goal by way of the free-scoring Juan Arango.

Tickets for the match will go on sale on Monday, with East Stand tickets priced at $1000, Grand Stand $2000 and VIP $3000.