Reggae Boyz move up one spot

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Jamaica jumped one place in the world to 43rd, to continue as the top team in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), in the latest FIFA rankings released yesterday.

The most dominant side in the region since winning the last December's Caribbean Cup, Jamaica remained well ahead of their nearest rivals Trinidad and Tobago, who were dropped three places to 91st overall.

Their movement comes despite a 1-0 loss to China in a friendly international in Beijing earlier this month.

Jamaica ended 2010 ranked 58th in the world and made steady improvement to jump as high as 38th in June.

Despite their drop, T&T have stayed ahead of Cuba, who were unmoved at 99th in the world, with Antigua and Barbuda also remaining fourth after staying put at 106th overall.

St Vincent and the Grenadines were the biggest movers, jumping three spots to 158th in FIFA and 16th in the CFU, while the Netherland Antilles were the biggest losers, falling nine places to 166th.

Ecuador friendly

Meanwhile, the Jamaicans will play a friendly international again at Ecuador in Quito on Friday, September 2, at 4 p.m. (Jamaica time) and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) technical staff has called a training camp that will run from August 25-29, for its local-based players to prepare for the encounter.

The invitees include 10 overseas- and nine local-based players.

The game continues the Road to Brazil preparation and promises to be very tough for the Jamaicans as the last time Ecuador lost at home was in 2009, against 2011 COPA America finalists Uruguay. Ecuador have qualified for the World Cup in 2002 and 2006 and in 2006 the country went as far as the second round.

SQUAD:

Overseas-based: Dwayne Miller (Syrianska FC, Sweden), Shavar Thomas (Sporting Kansas City, USA), Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo (USA), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids, USA), Ryan Johnson (Toronto FC, Canada), Demar Phillips (Aalesund FC, Norway), Damion Williams (Nygbersung Il, Norway), Rudolph Austin (SK Brann, Norway), Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls, USA), Jevaughn Watson (Houston Dynamo, USA).

Local-based: Eric Vernan, Andre Vanzie, Adrian Reid (Portmore United), Xavian Virgo (Boys' Town), Richard Edwards, Montrose Phinn (Harbour View), Keneil Moodie (Montego Bay United), Richard McCallum (Waterhouse), Troy Smith (Village United).