'Elimination a tough lesson for U-23s'

Andrew Harris, Gleaner Intern

Coach of Jamaica's Under-23 team, Brazilian Alfredo Montesso, said yesterday that the young Reggae Boyz, now eliminated from contention for a place in next year's London Olympics, failed to fully make use of their chances at the Caribbean Football Union qualification play-offs in Suriname.

Jamaica lost out on goal difference to host team Suriname after both countries played to a 2-2 draw in the final play-off match on Sunday and ended on seven points each.

In their earlier matches, the young Reggae Boyz defeated St Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0 and then clipped Cayman Islands 1-0 for an overall plus-three goal difference.

On the other hand, Suriname beat the Caymans Islands 5-0 and then defeated St Vincent 3-1 for a superior plus-seven goal difference.

'We paid the price'

Montesso said Jamaica paid the price for not capitalising on their chances.

"It is a lesson that we have to learn that once we play a competition like that, we are supposed to go and capitalise on the opportunities that we create," he said.

Montesso, however, did not think that a month and a half was enough to prepare the team for the tournament.

"To be frank, if I said I did enough to prepare the team, I would be lying, because we were with the team for a month and a half. But I think that what we played in Suriname was enough to qualify in the first stage. But the thing with football is that you pay the consequences when you do not capitalise on the opportunities you create," said Montesso.

He said the players were very upset after the game and had to be consoled.

"They took that elimination seriously and at the end of the game we had to console them, because they went out of their minds due to the fact that they really wanted to qualify," said Montesso.