Veterans Marshall, 'Pepe' in Gold Cup squad

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Veterans Ian 'Pepe' Goodison and Tyrone Marshall are among 23 players called up by national senior team head coach, Theodore Whitmore, for the June 5-25 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States and the pre-tournament training camp in Brazil.

The pair, which combines for just under 200 caps for the Reggae Boyz, will join a mix of young local and international talent, as the team looks to prepare for its eighth participation in the region's premier football championship.

Goodison, 38, who turned in yet another impressive season with English League One outfit Tranmere Rovers this season, will be joining up with the national team for the first time since playing a role in the team's 3-0 World Cup qualifying win against Canada in November 2008 at the National Stadium.

Marshall, now 36, currently plies his trade with the reigning MLS champions, Colorado Rapids, and will also make a return to the team after last representing the country at the previous CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, two years ago.

The bulk of the team was expected to arrive in Sao Paulo, Brazil, yesterday for their training camp, with the delegation travelling again on June 2 to Los Angeles for their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener against Grenada at the Home Depot Centre.

Jamaica will play their second game against Guatemala on June 10 in Miami, and their final group game against Honduras on June 13 in New Jersey.

Newly appointed assistant coach, Alfredo Montesso, will join up with the unit at the training camp and has remained in Brazil - as opposed to travelling to Jamaica with the other recent Brazilian appointees to the coaching staff - specifically to help finalise plans for a successful preparatory camp.

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"We are looking forward to this Gold Cup and we are expecting to do much better than we did last time around," said Whitmore in a recent interview with The Gleaner.

Several players had to be left at home due to injuries such as Ricardo Fuller and Kavin Bryan. Omar Cummings, who was injured two weeks ago in a club game, is included because he is recovering and is expected to be able to participate in the tournament.

US-based Jermaine Taylor and Jevaughn Watson are experiencing issues relating to work permit for their respective clubs and consequently will only meet up with the national team in California on June 2. Also, coach Whitmore has approved Donovan Ricketts and Dicoy Williams meeting up with the team in Los Angeles on June 2.

SQUAD: Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy, USA), Dwayne Miller (Syrianska FC, Sweden), Duwayne Kerr (Strommen Il, Norway), Shavar Thomas (Sporting Kansas, MLS), Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo, MLS), Demar Phillips (Aalesund, Norway), Adrian Reid (Portmore), Eric Vernon (Portmore), Dicoy Williams (Toronto FC, MLS), Omar Daley (unattached), Jason Morrison (Aalesund, Norway), Richard Edwards (Harbour View), Jevaughn Watson (Houston Dynamo, MLS), Damian Williams (Nybergsund Il,Norway), Keammar Daley (Tivoli), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, Norway), Navion Boyd (Tivoli) Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls, MLS) Ryan Johnson (San Jose Earthquakes, MLS) Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids) Luton Shelton (Valerenga FC, Norway) Ian Goodison (Tranmere, England), Tyrone Marshall (Colorado Rapids, MLS).