Copa America debut for Reggae Boyz
Jamaica travel to Chile as outside hotshots to progress from Group
Jamaica embark on new territory when they tackle the Copa America in Chile later this month, their first shot at the prestigious tournament.
Following on from last year’s shock Caribbean Cup success, the 23-player squad will take on defending champions Uruguay (13 June), Paraguay (16 June) and 2014 World Cup runner-up Argentina (20 June).
English-based captain Rodolph Austin, three players who ply their trade in Jamaica and 14 officials left on Thursday for the Reggae Boyz’ historic foray in the competition.
Defender Hughan Gray (Waterhouse) and the Montego Bay United strikers Allan Ottey and Dino Williams are the Jamaican contingent selected by head coach Winfried Schaefer.
The British-based players include Leicester City’s Wes Morgan in defence and Derby County’s Simon Hawkins in midfield.
Je-Vaughn Watson, who plays for FC Dallas in US Major League Soccer (MLS), is due to join the squad immediately after the opening tie. With fellow MLS forwards Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo) and Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps) aiming to make an impact.
Jamaica join fellow CONCACAF side Mexico as invited guests to the Copa Amercia tournament, which kicks off on June 11 and concludes on July 4 at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago de Chile.
The Reggae Boyz come up against Uruguay on June 13 at the Estadio Regional Calvo y Bascunan in Antofagasta, followed by Paraguay on June 16 at the same venue. To complete their Group B games the Boyz then face Argentina in Estadio Sausalito at Vina del Mar on June 20.
The top two sides from each of the three groups automatically qualify for the quarter-final knockout stage, with the two best third-placed teams also progressing.
Jamaica: Goalkeepers DuWayne Kerr (Sarpsborg 08, Norway), Dwayne Miller (Syrianska, Sweden), Ryan Thompson (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, USA); Defenders Daniel Gordon (Karlsruher SC, Germany), Hughan Gray (Waterhouse FC, Jamaica), Michael Hector (Reading, England), Lance Laing (FC Edmonton, Canada), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls, USA), Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace, England), Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo, USA), Wes Morgan (Leicester City, England); Midfielders Rodolph Austin (Unattached), Simon Dawkins (Derby County, England), Joel McAnuff (Leyton Orient, England), Garath McCleary (Reading, England), Romeo Parkes (AD Isidro Metapan, El Salvador), Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas, USA); Strikers Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo, USA), Deshorn Brown (Valerenga, Norway), Joel Grant (Yeovil Town, England), Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada), Allan Ottey (Montego Bay United, Jamaica) and Dino Williams (Montego Bay United, Jamaica).