Jamaica’s Caribbean Cup Tie Postponed
Hurricane Matthew delays Suriname home match
Theodore Whitmore’s return for a competitive match as Jamaica’s head coach has been delayed by safety concerns following Hurricane Matthew. The former Reggae Boyz chief, recently installed as interim for two Caribbean Cup qualifiers, will have to wait until 11 October to kick-off his new role.
The effects of Hurricane Matthew put paid to tomorrow’s tie against Suriname, that had been due to be played at the 2,200-capacity Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston. The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), who are deep in negotiations to pay-off head coach Winfried Schäfer from his contract that expires in two years, have not re-scheduled the postponed match against Suriname.
Veteran Schäfer was suspended by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on 6 September, and although the JFF tried to tempt Carl Brown back as head coach of the Boyz for a fourth time they swiftly turned to Whitmore on a temporary basis for these Caribbean Cup games.
The JFF are continuing not to divulge, despite requests for clarification, of the situation regarding Schäfer although the German veteran appears to be out of the equation for a return to his reported US$5,000 pcm role.
Schäfer did guide the Boyz to their 2014 Caribbean Cup triumph and it is now Whitmore who begins their defence with a much altered squad from Schäfer’s World Cup Qualifying flops.
Whitmore, who left his role as coach of the Boyz to make way for Schäfer, will take his squad to tackle Guyana at their purpose-built Leonora Stadium next Tuesday.
And ex-player Whitmore has made wholesale changes, axing both veterans and those based in Europe in favour of home-grown talent and a sprinkling from the United States.
There are none of the numerous English-based players included, and no call up for Genk’s talented teenager and Jamaica Under-23 star Leon Bailey – who won the Best Young Player last year in Belgium and is under the scrunity of Europe’s elite clubs.
Whitmore’s changes comprise defensive trio Damion Lowe (Minnesota), Ladale Ritchie (Montego Bay) and Dicoy Williams (Arnett Gardens), midfielders Dwayne Ambursely (Montego Bay United), Ewan Grandison (Portmore United) and Andrew Vanzie (Humble Lion), with strikers Owayne Gordon (Indy Eleven), Darren Mattocks (Portland Timbers), Allan Ottey (Montego Bay United) and Dino Williams (Montego Bay United) expected to end the goal drought.
As these pair of Caribbean Cup matches are not considered to be tricky ties then Whitmore has saved the JFF money by choosing locals and planning for the future.
But it could be false economy should the Boyz fail to top the three-team group that automatically means qualifying for the money-spinning 2017 Caribbean Cup in the United States.
JAMAICA SQUAD: Dwayne Ambursely, Michael Binns, Cory Burke, Shaun Francis, Owayne Gordon, Ewan Grandison, Rosario Harriott, Omar Holness, Kemar Lawrence, Damion Lowe, Darren Mattocks, Dever Orgill, Alvas Powell, Ladale Ritchie, Ryan Thompson, Andrew Vanzie, Je-Vaughn Watson, Dicoy Williams, Dino Williams
Download The Jamaican Blogs™ App for your Android device: HERE
Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. To submit your own articles or to advertise with us please send us an EMAIL at: [email protected]