Heat is on for untested Reggae Boyz

Six local-based players have been included in the Copa America squad, which runs from 3-26 June in Canada and the United States. ‎Roy Simpson, Jamaica’s team manager, said: “We try to be consistent with local players. 

“There’s Ottey (Allan), who we believe it’s the time for him to show what he’s about. Vanzie (Andrew) is a midfielder, and a youngster getting an opportunity like that he hopes he will stand up. 

“Michael Binns is at an age where he should be on par with the pros and we have Rosario Harriott, who with his height and pace can be a regular international.

“But the harder they work, the more opportunity they’ll get, and we are confident this bunch will give a good account of themselves.”

However, he failed to mention Portmore’s Damano Solomon who completes the list of Jamaican-based players.

Chile, the reigning Copa America champions, have been drawn in Group D to face last year’s runner-up Argentina as well as Bolivia and Panama.

The Boyz have a much more difficult group with ‎games against Venezuela on 5 June in Chicago, Mexico on 9 June in Pasadena and Uruguay on 13 June in Uruguay.

Jamaica’ s maiden Copa America appearance was last season when Schäfer’s uninspiring tactics were – as usual since winning the 2014 Caribbean Cup – defend to the death but rely on counterattacks to snatch goals. 

The Boyz honed their skills in the competition with resolute defending but lack of imagination in the final third, and tasted a trio of 1-0 reversals to powerhouses Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Since then many of Jamaica’s key players have‎ shone, most notably burly defender Wes Morgan who won the English Premier League title with unfancied Leicester City. But he has been given time off to rest and joins the squad ahead of their opening Copa America.

Simpson added optimistically: “The Chile game is to look at the local players and areas that need addressing. 

“Chile’s a good team, but on any given day Jamaica can beat Chile.”‎

Juan Antonio Pizzi, the Chile manager, has stuck with the majority of players who beat Argentina in the final last term under the guidance of Jorge Sampaoli.

Star players – Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas and Arturo Vidal – are likely to be rested for the Jamaica match with newcomer Nicolas Castillo expected to start upfront.

Pizzi said: “We’ve worked in various ways, with three or two strikers But I’m waiting for my chance because there’s no rush.

“Jamaica will be a complicated team that will come to challenge us.”

From Jamaica’s overseas-based players, skipper Rodolph Austin and shotstopper Andre Blake will not join the squad until after the Chile match. The pair will meet up at the team’s training camp in Florida.

JAMAICA SQUAD: ‎Rodolph Austin, Giles Barnes, Michael Binns, Andre Blake, Simon Dawkins, Clayton Donaldson, Michael Hector, Rosario Harriott, Duwayne Kerr, Kemar Lawrence, Adrian Mariappa, Jobi McAnuff, Garath McCleary, Wes Morgan, Dever Orgill, Allan Ottey, Damano Solomon, Jermaine Taylor, Ryan Thompson, Andrew Vanzie, Je-Vaughn Watson, Lee Williamson.