Makeshift Jamaica Squad To Tackle Unity Cup

A dozen British-based players and seven islanders named in Reggae Boyz squad who have a shot at glory in London

Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri, a 16-year-old Manchester City academy player, is a surprise inclusion for Jamaica for next week’s Unity Cup in England.

The talented teenager was snapped up for an undisclosed fee by City last July, when Chelsea and Everton were also keen to land the striker who had starred for Scotland U16s and bagged 24 goals for Sheffield Wednesday’s U18s.

He joins his older brother Bailey-Tye, who has scored twice for Jamaica, in the Reggae Boyz’ 24-player roster for the four-team 2026 Unity Cup.

Rudolph Speid has returned to the dugout for another stint as Jamaica’s interim head coach, with Miguel Coley as his assistant. The pair were drafted in last November, following ex-England boss Steve McClaren resignation after failing to secure an automatic FIFA World Cup berth.

Speid was set the task to win two matches in Mexico to book a berth to the lucrative World Cup finals. Although he managed a slender 1-0 success over unfancied New Caledonia, the Reggae Boyz fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of out-of-sorts DR Congo during extra time to miss out on reaching this summer’s World Cup.

Instead Jamaica’s goal is about winning silverware in London at The Valley, home to Charlton Athletic. This is where former Clarendon College hotshot Kaheim Dixon has been plying his trade since August 2024.

The 21-year-old former Chapleton Maroons and Arnett Gardens FC ace spent some of last season at Crawley Town, but only managed to score once in 16 appearances. Although he was recalled from his season-long loan by Charlton, he has not featured for the club in any Championship games this term.

Speid has named 11 debutants for the Unity Cup, with a semi-final showdown against India on 27 May (7.30pm ko). There could be a first cap for goalkeeper Joshua Grant, defensive trio Jeovanni Laing, Odin Samuels-Smith and Marlon van de Wetering, midfielders Courtney Clarke and Dwight Merrick plus five strikers.

Wrexham’s Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri and right winger Dixon are the only forwards in the squad to have represented the Boyz at senior level.

As Speid is using the Unity Cup as a dress rehearsal to become the permanent Jamaica head coach, the wily 64-year-old tactician is going hell for leather in attack.

As well as Caelan-Koe Cadamarteri, his roster features upfront Port Vale’s Dajaune Brown, Mount Pleasant FA star Raheem Edwards, Tivoli Gardens FC’s Nickalia Fuller and US-based Nick Simmonds.

Simmonds plays for FC Dallas in the MLS Western Conference, while his team-mate Malachi Molina has yet to represent the Boyz at right back but could be one for the future.

Joshua Grant, the 18-year-old shotstopper who plays in the US third tier for FC Naples, has been selected with a view to being a regular safe pair of hands. Grant and Netherlands-based defender Van de Wetering have been elevated from Jamaica’s U20 squad.
 
Veteran defender Damion Lowe will captain the Boyz against India, with the winner to progress to the final against either defending champions Nigeria or Zimbabwe on 30 May.

Jamaica fans will anticipate that, despite Speid’s makeshift squad, the Boyz will seek revenge for losing the thrilling 2025 Unity Cup final against Nigeria.

JAMAICA UNITY CUP SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Tafari Chambers (Mount Pleasant FA), Coniah Boyce-Clarke (Aldershot Town, England), Joshua Grant (FC Naples, USA).

DEFENDERS: Christopher Ainsworth (Cavalier FC), Jeovanni Laing (Cavalier FC), Joel Latibeaudiere (Coventry City, England), Dexter Lembikisa (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Damion Lowe (Dewa United Banten, Indonesia), Odin Samuels-Smith (Everton, England), Ronaldo Webster (KF Shkendija, North Macedonia), Marlon van de Wetering (FC Eindhoven, Netherlands).

MIDFIELDERS: Brandon Cover (Rotherham United, England), Courtney Clarke (Walsall, England), Nickyle Ellis (Racing United FC), Tyrese Hall (Notts County, England), Isaac Hayden (QPR, England), Dwight Merrick (Montego Bay United).

STRIKERS: Dajaune Brown (Port Vale, England), Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri (Wrexham, Wales), Caelan-Koe Cadamarteri (Manchester City, England), Kaheim Dixon (Charlton Athletic, England), Raheem Edwards (Mount Pleasant FA), Nickalia Fuller (Tivoli Gardens FC), Nick Simmonds (FC Dallas, USA).

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