Whitmore wants Reggae Boyz to extend growth

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have kicked off their preparations for Friday's friendly international against South American outfit Venezuela and the final members of the overseas contingent, Omar Cummings and Kavin Bryan, were expected to arrive in the island yesterday.

The strikers, Cummings, who looks in good form for Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids, and Bryan, who plies his trade for Vietnam V-league club Song Lam Nghe AN, joined Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls), Khari Stephenson (San Jose Earthquakes) and Shavar Thomas (Kansas City Wizards) as the overseas-based players in the squad.

Stephenson and Thomas arrived in the island on Monday.

The Boyz began training at Jarrett Park yesterday and will host two more sessions at that venue today, before moving to the Montego Bay Sports Complex, in Catherine Hall, tomorrow.

Building on foundation

Having recently achieved their highest rating in six years, which put them 46th in the FIFA rankings, Jamaica's head coach Theodore Whitmore is looking to build on that foundation with a positive result over the South American country, currently ranked 63rd.

"We want to keep things going. In fact, every game the national team plays we look forward to it," said Whitmore. "The funny thing, though, is that they say the national team always struggles whenever we play out here in the west. We want to change that. We have a chance to do so and we are looking forward to it."

Whitmore, was born in that section of the island, where he attended St James High School before playing for Violet Kickers and then Seba United, was, however, happy to see international football returning to the region and looked forward to support from the public.

"I just want them to come out and support the team, wear their colours and come early. We know there isn't a lot of space, but we don't want any one left out," Whitmore said.

The Venezuelans are expected to arrive in the island today, but they will be without one of their top strikers, Jose Rondon.

Having netted 14 goals in 25 appearances for Spanish La Liga team Malaga, the player pulled a muscle in his right leg after scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday.

Jamaica will similarly be without one their top strikers in Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller, who asked to be withdrawn from the list of players invited for matches against Venezuela and then El Salvador, citing personal domestic reasons for his request.

The Venezuelan team will train at the Montego Bay Sports Complex tomorrow.