Debutants Jamaica entered the stadium to thunderous applause their coach Conroy O’Malley put down to the Usain Bolt factor, as the tiny nation rides a wave of sporting popularity instigated by six-time Olympic sprinting champion’s exploits. “He set the trend for us so I expected this to happen,” said O’Malley. The support wasn’t enough to lift the side to victory, as they fell 27-17 to Georgia as the world series pre-qualifier got under way, but there was enough talent on show from the Jamaicans to keep the crowd happy – and to warn rivals they won’t be easybeats over the weekend. “Basically, I said coming out here just to go out and put on a good show,” said O’Malley. “I was expecting a little bit more from them. I thought they would be a little bit too forceful but that didn’t happen so I am happy with that.” The Jamaicans found it tough to deal with the brute power of Georgia’s Irakli Machkaneli (two tries in the first half) and Viktor Kolelishvili (two in the second) but they rallied as the game wore on, despite being reduced to six men twice for infringements. “It didn’t do much damage,” […]
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Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz continue to find a World Cup qualfier win against Panama elusive, after drawing 1-1 in their FIFA World Cup qualifier inside the National Stadium on Friday. The Jamaicans, like the Panamanians now sit on two points from as many matches heading into Tuesday’s clash against Costa Rica in San Jose. Goal of the day – Marvin Elliot Jamaica 1-1 Panama, 22’ It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that the home faithful had something to cheer about. Marvin Elliott rose to meet a Demar Phillips corner. Sending the stadium into wild celebrations. Debutant Jermaine Beckford and Luton Shelton linked up well throughout and wide man Garath McCleary found some joy on the right flank, but the Jamaicans were kept at bay by a solid Panama outfit for the remainder of the half. The visitors almost found a way back into the game straight away but Reggae Boyz captain and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts pushed out his left leg to stop a 28th minute effort from Panama striker Blas Perez, ensuring the Jamaicans went into half-time with the 1-0 lead. Both teams came out of the locker rooms for the start of the second half in buoyant […]
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Whether at home in Jamaica or somewhere abroad, if the Reggae Boyz are playing, these are the must-haves for fans who are going to this football game. If you’ve got suggestions, thoughts or feedback regarding our list of the Top 10 must-haves for a Reggae Boyz football match above, please feel free to post them below. Top 10 Jamaica
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The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) is proud to be hosting the biggest (and best) ever Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in the 38-year history of the tournament. For the first time ever, Hong Kong will welcome 28 teams to the Sevens in 2013. This year’s Sevens will comprise the HSBC Sevens World Series (HSBC SWS) competition with the 15 international core teams on the Series plus Asian Sevens champions Hong Kong, alongside a 12-team pre-qualifier competition to determine the eventual entrants for the final HSBC SWS qualification event at the London Sevens in May. The move to 28 teams is the first increase in the Hong Kong Sevens field since the 24-team standard was adopted in 1984. The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2013 will also mark the largest ever tournament held to date as part of the HSBC Sevens World Series since its inception in 1999. As such, it is entirely fitting that the international television coverage is set to break an HSBC SWS record with 23 individual broadcasters taking the live coverage worldwide and live/delayed coverage reaching its widest footprint ever with an expected reach of 257 million homes in 144 countries. Of the 28 […]
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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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