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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For Nico Marley, his last name brings two very different set of expectations. On one hand, he is the grandson of Bob Marley, reggae’s greatest legend. On the other he is the son of Rohan Marley, a former star linebacker at the University of Miami during one of the Hurricanes’ past glory periods. For the youngest of the three Marleys, there is little doubt about where he gets his guidance. He is his father’s son, with even more leadership qualities. “He’s really impressive. When I see him, I see myself as a better player. He plays like I played in college. He’s everywhere,” Rohan Marley told the Miami Herald. “I remember when he was a little boy in Jamaica and I was still training, playing football in the [Canadian Football League] I took him to the beach with me when he was 2. I ran full speed down the beach holding his hand. He ran with me all the way. That’s when I knew he was a tough boy.” It turns out that Nico Marley has developed into something more than a tough boy. At an undersized 5-foot-7 and 182 pounds, Marley eventually committed to play linebacker at Tulane after failing to receive […]
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Herculez Gomez scored off a second-half free-kick as USA got their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifying campaign back on track with a 1-0 win over Jamaica on Tuesday. Gomez curled in a shot from the right side in the 55th minute for the Americans, who avenged a loss to Jamaica last week and earned three points with Tuesday’s win in front of a crowd of 24,000 at Columbus Crew Stadium. USA, Jamaica, and Guatemala all have seven points atop Group A in the semi-final round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF). The top two teams from each group advance to the final phase of qualifying next year. Guatemala and the United States hold the edge over Jamaica with a superior goal difference. In the other group match, Guatemala defeated Antigua and Barbuda 1-0. USA has two games left in this round as they host Antigua and Barbuda on 12 October, then travel to Guatemala four days later. Jamaica claimed its first-ever win against the United States on Friday with a 2-1 victory in Kingston. The United States dominated the opening half, but failed to convert their chances as the game remained scoreless going into […]
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Hoping to contain the speedy Jamaica, the U.S. national team played a tight diamond midfield formation in a World Cup qualifier against the Reggae Boyz in Kingston on Friday night. The result, perhaps partially due to an off-night by three of the four U.S. middies, was a 2-1 win for Jamaica that puts the U.S. in near-precarious position with three games remaining in the semifinal round. It wasn’t that the fleet Jamaicans ran roughshod through the American defense. The U.S. did not allow Jamaica much of anything in the way of close-range scoring chances, minus the costly fouls by Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones that led to free-kick goals from just outside the penalty area by Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton. The problem was the creation of chances, or lack of, by the U.S., whose narrow posture produced only two notable crossing attempts from wide positions on Friday. It was compounded by the injury absences of field general Michael Bradley and the always dangerous Landon Donovan. But the Americans hope to change that in the rematch on Tuesday in Crew Stadium. They spent a lengthy portion of an open training session today working on finishing from […]
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The Reggae Boyz Continued their World Cup Qualification Preparation with a 2-0 win over El Salvador in the RFK Stadium in Washington DC. Luton Shelton scored the brace which gave Jamaica the victory. Shelton brings his tally to 33 goals in 63 games for Jamaica. The Last Time Luton Scored for Jamaica was back in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup vs Grenada. The Jamaican’s started attacking from the get go and Luton Shelton no surprise, gave a wake up call to El Salvadorian Goal Keeper Dagoberto Portillo however he made a fine save in the early stages. Andre Campbell also got into the action moments later, however keeper Portillo was agile on the occasion. Jamaica made the break through in the 16th minute through a diligent build up of passes and Luton Shelton Calmly finished. The El Salvadorians started to press higher looking for an Equalizer, however Shavar Thomas and Jermaine Taylor took the sting out of their attack. A debut was handed to 21 year old Mercurial Talent Darren Mattocks in the midway point of the 2nd half and he showed his flair and his silky skills from early. He was able to find gaps in between […]
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