Goal For Reggae Boyz’ New Quartet Is To Add Rhythm
Theodore Whitmore’s Jamaica have kicked off their preparation for their FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifiers by bringing in fresh faces to tackle hosts Saudi Arabia next month.
The head coach has drafted striker Norman Campbell and defender Gregory Leigh, both have been selected for Reggae Boyz for the very first time, with the pair part of the 24-player contingent set to face Saudi Arabia at the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium in Riyadh on November 14 and 17 respectively.
Whitmore has been looking, albeit from a distance because of the coronavirus crisis, at bringing in new players from overseas – both in Europe and North America – in order to strengthen his squad ahead of next June’s initial World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF region.
From England unattached defender Adrian Mariappa, yet to find a club since being released by Watford at the end of last season, joins the Fulham pair of defender Michael Hector and hot-shot striker Bobby Decordova-Reid in the squad for Saudia Arabia.
The uncapped midfield duo of Daniel Johnson and journeyman Ravel Morrison are also in the Jamaica squad, with both having previously been selected for a 60-player squad a few years ago but each failed to make the final cut for the Gold Cup competition.
Both Kingston-born Johnson, who plays in the English Football League Championship for Preston North End, and Morrison are attacking midfielders that will add much-needed steel to the Boyz. Morrison, born and raised in England, has a checkered past both on and off the pitch. He was with English Premier League club Sheffield United last term but signed last month for Dutch top tier team ADO Den Haag.
Newcomer Campbell last month made the move from Harbour View FC to join Serbian second division outfit RFK Grafičar Beograd on a one-year loan deal.
British-born Leigh joined Manchester City’s youth academy as a forward but was gradually converted into a solid defender. He had spells in the lower leagues in England before joining Eredivisie team NAC Breda on a three-year deal in June 2018. But 12 months later he was loaned to Aberdeen, and this year left the Dutch club to pen a short-term contract with the Scottish Premiership side where he plies his trade as left-back.
The inclusion of Junior Flemmings, serving a six-month club suspension with North American USL side Phoenix Rising FC for allegedly using a homophobic term towards a player during a match on 30 September, in the latest squad will raise eyebrows and be deemed a controversial decision. His team-mates defender Damion Lowe and midfielder Kevon Lambert are also in the squad.
Five island-based players have been selected for the two friendly internationals, namely 19-year-old Harbour View FC midfielder Jahshaun Anglin, Arnett Gardens’ striker Kemal Malcolm, Portmore United’s midfield pair of Ricardo Morris and Lamar Walker as well as Humble Lions FC shotstopper Dennis Taylor. These five are scheduled to be tested for COVID-19 on 4 November, so they will be isolated along with some staff members at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Kingston until they depart Jamaica on 6 November.
The Boyz have only met Saudi Arabia four times, and in their last meeting Jamaica suffered a hefty 5-2 defeat in Saudi Arabia three years ago.
Jamaica squad:
Jahshaun Anglin (Harbour View FC), Leon Bailey (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany), Norman Campbell (RFK Grafičar Beograd, Serbia), Bobby Decordova-Reid (Fulham, England), Javon East (Santos, Costa Rica), Oniel Fisher (DC United, USA), Junior Flemmings (Phoenix Rising FC, USA), Michael Hector (Fulham, England), Daniel Johnson (Preston North End, England), Amal Knight (San Diego Loyal, USA), Kevon Lambert (Phoenix Rising FC, USA), Kemar Lawrence (Anderlecht, Belgium), Gregory Leigh (Aberdeen, Scotland), Damion Lowe (Phoenix Rising FC, USA), Kemal Malcolm (Arnett Gardens FC), Adrian Mariappa (unattached), Dwayne Miller (Syrianska, Sweden), Ricardo Morris (Vaasan Palloseura, Finland), Ravel Morrison (ADO Den Haag, Holland), Shamar Nicholson (R. Charleroi SC, Belgium), Kaheem Parris (NK Krka, Slovenia), Alvas Powell (Inter Miami FC, USA), Dennis Taylor (Humble Lions FC), Lamar Walker (Portmore United).
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