Donovan Ricketts remembers the summer of 1998 well: “People ask me about France ’98, ask me to make comparisons to that team in every interview I do,” the veteran goalkeeper told FIFA.com with a kindly laugh, recalling Jamaica’s first and only trip to a FIFA World Cup. “It was a long time ago, and I was very young.” Ricketts’ teammates in the current Jamaica team watched the ‘98 Boyz huddled around TVs in their neighbourhoods, playing and carrying on with their friends in the streets. They were just boys and they dreamed recklessly of being the ones on those screens someday. But Ricketts was there in the flesh, a 20-year-old back-up goalkeeper soaking it all in from the bench. “The experience was crazy,” said Ricketts, now with Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers. “It meant so much to Jamaica and to me.” “That team from ’98 was a better team than now,” added Ricketts, now 35, vice captain, and approaching a century of caps. “Most of us were playing our club football in Jamaica, so we were together in camp day in and day out,” he said of that 1998 side, coached by Brazilian Rene Simoes, that captured the world’s attention. […]
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A 24 man Reggae Boyz squad has been called up for Jamaica ahead of their vital World Cup Qualifiers against Panama on March 22 and Costa Rica on March 26. It includes one new invitee and 2 others. Luton Shelton, Jermaine Beckford and new invitee Lloyd Doyley have been added to the squad for Jamaica’s crucial World Cup Qualifiers at the end of March. 29 year old 6 foot 2 inch striker Jermaine Beckford was called up to Jamaica’s squad vs Mexico however a hamstring injury a week before the encounter threw away his chance of making his debut. However a sturdy rehabilitation has got Jermaine back in the gym and back to training with Huddersfield Town and to get some minutes under his belt before he represents Jamaica. The former Everton FC striker is agile, quick and is a clinical finisher on goal. He is a player that will certainly show CONCACAF that Jamaica has a potent goal scorer on their hands. Expect fireworks from this man. Lloyd Doyley is a 30 year old versatile defender who plays for Watford FC in the Championship in England. Doyley can operate anywhere along the back 4, but he has seen majority of his success as a right back and as a centre half. Doyley also will not have […]
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On March 22 Jamaica will take on Panama at the National Stadium (The Office). This will be their 1st home match of the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, also known as the Hexagonal. For Jamaica to guarantee a top 3 spot and automatically qualify for Brazil in 2014, Jamaica must aim to get 18 points to cement and book their tickets to the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup. The Office has proven to be a fortress for Jamaica in World Cup Qualifiers especially in recent times as Jamaica has won each of their last 7 World Cup Qualifiers at the Office. The streak started against Bahamas in June 2008 and ended most recently against Antigua and Barbuda in October 2012. So Jamaica will be looking to make it 8 games as the country faces Panama in Theodore Whitmore’s 54th game in charge of the Reggae Boyz. The Jamaican national Stadium alongside the Estadio Azteca and Columbus Crew Stadium has proven to be the most daunting venues in the CONCACAF region and with the Reggae Boyz having an asset namely The Office, the Jamaicans will be happy to have an advantage where the crowd support is […]
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Mexico City, Mexico – Who would have thought it possible? Jamaica, the tiny Caribbean island of just 2.7 million people, went to the Estadio Azteca and battled the North Americans, who boast a population of 115 million, 21.2 of which reside in Mexico City, to a 0-0 in their opening World Cup Qualifying Final Round encounter Wednesday night. It was a historic result for Jamaica, who have been bombarded 8-0, 2-1, 6-0, 4-0, and 3-0 in five previous World Cup encounters in Mexico City. It leaves Jamaica on one point, the same as Mexico, and two behind Honduras, who lead the six-team group on three points after their 2-1 victory over the United States earlier in the day. Panama and Costa Rica are also on one point, after playing to a 2-2 result in Panama City. The Reggae Boyz and those close to the team were hoping for a “One Love” result on Bob Marley’s birthday, but they would be left satisfied after the final result. The first half featured a few close calls, but no goals. The Jamaicans nearly took an early advantage when Jobi McAnuff’s header hit the post and the ball bounced neatly back to his […]
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The country’s football programme has received a well-needed boast ahead of the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup. International soft drink brand, Coca-Cola, came on board with a sponsorship package to the tune of US$1.6 million (approximately J$149m) over a six-year period. The sponsorship deal includes cash, products, performance incentives, promotional support and global activations, as Jamaica now shares a common bond with great football nations such as Argentina and Germany, which are also sponsored by the global brand. “It is a great pleasure to announce an exciting and dynamic partnership between Coke and the Jamaica Football Federation,” managing director of Wisynco Group Limited, William Mahfood, announced during yesterday’s press launch at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters. long-term investment Shermin Peters, senior market development manager of Coca-Cola Company, pointed out that the company’s sponsorship of the country’s national team is a continuity of their commitment across the region. “This is more than just Coca-Cola being the official sparkling soft beverage of football in Jamaica,” Peters expressed. “This is about a long-term investment in Jamaica and it’s people, and it’s an extension of the Coca-Cola company’s commitment to promoting active lifestyles among youths and families.” The […]
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