6 days ago
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THE Reggae Boyz kick off their Concacaf final round World Cup (WC) qualifiers away to Bermuda next Friday, before hosting Trinidad and Tobago at home the following Tuesday, and Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts said the players must show the hunger and desire required, if they want to ensure that the country gets to its second finals.
Ricketts said despite the quality players and coaches that the Reggae Boyz have in their ranks, without the hunger and desire it will be difficult to achieve the results they desire.
“It is very important that the players also show that level of commitment and hunger. They must show that passion and loyalty. That is the only way we are going to get good and positive results.
“We are hoping that they stay strong mentally, stay focused over the course of the campaign and score some goals and win their games.
“Of course, my hope and my expectation is that we get three points (against Bermuda). And we want to be convincing in victory,” he said.
Jamaica will play Bermuda, Trinidad and Curaçao in Group B, home and away, between September and November.
The group winners are guaranteed a place in next World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, and for many it is Jamaica’s easiest ever route to the football showpiece event, but Ricketts says they must respect the opponents and get the job done on the field.
“It looks easy on paper but the game is not won until it’s over. We want to stay strong and execute on the field and ensure we get some points when we play. Everybody is stepping. Everybody is getting full support. We of course would have liked to have had it a little better from a financial standpoint, but we are doing okay and we will really try and state all of that on the field of play.
“But all these games are going to be tough and we just have to stay very focused and ensure that we win these games. We start against Bermuda on Friday and four days after we engage Trinidad. And I am hoping after the first window we will have maximum six points. When it comes around to the last game against Curacoa in November I would hope that we would have already secured our position at the World Cup,” Ricketts said.
With key players like Andre Blake and Leon Bailey now out due to injuries, Ricketts is confident that the players that come in to replace them will be more than capable of filling the roles.
He also believes the supporters have a big part to play, especially when they play at home.
“We are having some injuries to some key players but we still remain optimistic. We think we have replacements who can definitely influence the process.
“Also we implore the Jamaican fans to come out and be that 12th man inside the National Stadium and give the players their passionate support and I am sure we will get the points,” he added.
English (US) ·