Boyz, Japan friendly cancelled

Jamaica’s international friendly against Japan, scheduled for Thursday in Sapporo has been cancelled.

The match was expected to kick-start a three game international series for the Reggae Boyz, which includes matches against Serbia and the Japanese Under-23 team, which is preparing for the Olympic Games.

The match was cancelled as there are not enough Jamaican players available for the game to go ahead.

Currently, there are only 10 Jamaican players in Japan, as several England-based players were prevented from boarding their connecting flight in Amsterdam on their way to Japan, after they failed to produce a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which is mandatory to enter the country. While those players had tests done from the mouth and nostrils, Japan only accepts PCR tests done from the nostrils.

Jamaica already had to revise their team from the original 30-man squad released in May, as some players pulled out because of injuries, extended club commitments, personal reasons as well as documentation issues.

Jamaica are still scheduled to face Serbia on June 7 and the Japan Under-23 team on June 12. The games are a part of the Boyz's preparations for the upcoming Gold Cup tournament, which will be held in July.