THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 13 - MARCH 15, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | SPORTS 12 Livingston Scott/Gleaner Writer AFTER WHAT he described as a “delightful” experience, Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren is hoping to have more camps with local players. A largely local-based Jamaica squad played to a 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in the last game of a two-match international friendly series at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday night. Trinidad and Tobago’s Josiah Trimmingham was both hero and villain, as he scored both goals. The Montego Bay United defender put Trinidad ahead with a 29th-minute header, but also inadvertently scored an added-time own goal to salvage a draw for the home team, when he deflected Kimani Arbouine’s finish past his goalkeeper. McClaren said he “enjoyed” his time with the players, who showed attitude, character and spirit and that at least four players could make the step up to the regular squad. “The players are a pleasure to work with. Attitude, spirit, they showed that in training, they showed that in the game and I look forward to seeing them again, and not just playing for their clubs. “If we can organise more games and get-togethers like this, I think it will benefit the national team, the JPL (Jamaica Premier League) and the players going forward,” McClaren said post-match. INTEGRATION The former Manchester United assistant coach said monthly camps would help local players integrate into his system better. Asked about locally based players with the potential to make his World Cup squad, McClaren responded, “Most definitely. But as I said, we should do this more. If we can have the players two days, once a month going forward, I think it would benefit everybody involved more, in terms of football, the national team, the league and individually. “More games, more get-togethers. We tried to give them a lot of information, a lot of detail; that is what international football is about. We just try to give the players some experience. We had them for a week. I am delighted with the way they behaved, they trained. “They’ve never been late, [they were] attentive in meetings, cooperative, collaborative; I really enjoyed it. It’s a really good set of players and I hope everybody benefits from this exercise, and we will take the positives and go again,” he said. One of the criticisms of the senior Reggae Boyz team, with its influx of England-born players, is that the team lacks passion and hunger, which many local football observers believe local players would bring. CHARACTER McClaren was also pleased with the energy and character showed by the group, and said they have set the template for regulars to follow. “When the boys came to the camp, the number one assessment was character; how they handle the shirt, as it can be heavy. Can they play for Jamaica like they play for their clubs? That’s the key thing. So character, attitude and spirit. I call it energy,” McClaren stated. “In all the camps I’ve have, I had unbelievable energy from the players and this was not different, and that kept us going all the way. We never gave up. It showed in the consistency and commitment of the team, that they scored in the last 10 minutes and went on to salvage a point. “I like the second half. The intensity. That’s the demonstration of what a Jamaica team should be like going forward. That’s what I want. That’s what I want to see. “I was pleased with the performances, especially the second halves. The tempo was better, that is the tempo we want to play at. When we play with that intensity and tempo we dominate games and create chances, and that’s what we did,” he noted. He added that the aim of the camp has been achieved, which was to see players and give as many of them an opportunity. “The first game we really wanted to win. So we tried to keep the team on for long periods and make sure we were strong all the way through, and we won,” he said. “This (second) game was different. We wanted to see the players who played in MoBay, if they could recover. International football is very hectic. Could players recover in two days and play again. That was one intention we had,” McClaren explained. “The other one was to see every player we could. Unfortunately, there were two or three we couldn’t get on. But I wanted to use as many players as possible, to see as many as possible. BIGGER PICTURE “(I am) not so worried about the result, it’s more the bigger picture. I want three or four to emerge from this squad. “I will continue watching the JPL and other players may catch my eye. I want players who will improve this squad as we go forward into the World Cup, and this exercise that we’ve just had will help that,” he stated. livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com McClaren hopes to work more with local-based players Jamaica’s Kimani Arbouine (left) celebrates with teammates Stephen Young and Robinho Gordon (right) after his finish deflected off Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors defender Josiah Trimmingham and resulted in the Reggae Boyz’ equaliser in their second international friendly football match at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday night. The game ended 1-1. GLADSTONE TAYLOR/MULTIMEDIA PHOTO EDITOR Aubrey Campbell/Gleaner Writer NEW YORK: TRI-STATE AREA athletes eager to match strides with their Jamaican and Caribbean counterparts will have an opportunity to do so on Saturday, April 19, at the first staging of the New York Next-Gen Invitational Relays, at the Memorial Stadium, Mount Vernon, NY. Already generating quite a buzz, the concept is the brainchild of Shawn Falconer, NYC entrepreneur and a Jamaica College alum, better known in the soccer circles for his involvement in the promotion and staging of the annual alumni soccer festival in the Bronx. While the event is being promoted as a ‘standalone’meeting, the timing is strategic, coming only a week before the Penn Relays Carnival, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will provide TriState area athletes, in particular, an opportunity to sharpen their relay running technique, before heading south on the 1-95 corridor for the big weekend dance in Philly, the city of ‘Brotherly Love’. “The invitation is open and is being extended on a first-come basis,” noted Falconer, one of five principals heading up Next Gen Events Corporation, the production outfit that is responsible for all the logistics associated with the one-day relays event. Along with the traditional relays which will be ‘open’ to the best runners, irrespective of age from each school, there will also be competition in a number of individual or ‘flat’ events, including the 100 metres dash, the sprint hurdles (110 m), 400 metres and 800 metres. Schools will be limited to a maximum of three athletes per individual event, and one relay team per event. As for the scoring system, the top-three finishers in the individual events will receive the traditional gold, silver and bronze medals. Medals will be presented only to relay winners. Schools will have until March 31 to register, and may call Falconer at: 206.418.6705 or send an email to: info@nextgen-nyc.com Patrons are being advised that early bird tickets – $25 – are on sale to the end of the February. General admission tickets will be priced at $40 after that date. NY-based company to stage track and field meet for Tri-State area schools Shawn Falconer. CONTRIBUTED JAMAICA’S UNDER-17 Reggae Boyz started their World Cup Qualifiers with a 3-1 win over St Lucia in their opening Group H Concacaf clash at the Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala. The young Reggae Boyz are tied on three points with El Salvador after the first round of games last week, when the Central American team thumped Cayman Islands 8-0 in the other group fixture. By virtue of goal difference, El Salvador lead Group H. The group winner will advance directly to the FIFA U17 World Cup Championship later this year. Meanwhile, goals from Seymour Garfield-Reid (12th minute), Dario White (50th) and Jahmari Nolan (55th) saw the Jamaicans to a comfortable victory. Shevon Byron scored for St Lucia in the 73rd minute. Jamaica started slowly but got off the mark when Garfield-Reid blasted a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that flew between the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper. The young Reggae Boyz had a glorious opportunity to double their lead minutes later, but Garfield-Reid lifted over the bar after receiving an excellent through ball from Raequan Campbell-Dennis. Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Cai-Anthony McLean escaped a possible red card in the 28th minute after he took out Justice Germaine, who broke away free on goal. Jamaica continued to control the game, but Garfield-Reid could not turn home another chance, from 12 yards, after good work from Keiran Smith down the left. However, the St Lucians were a threat on the counter, and only an alert McLean prevented Byron from getting loose in the 32nd minute. Three minutes into the second half, Cadriano Marsh flashed a header wide of the mark, as Jamaica looked to increase their advantage. Moments later St Lucia skimmed the bar with a shot from the edge of the area, after good work from Byron. However, Jamaica went straight up field and Garfield-Reid laid the ball on for substitute White, who drilled a shot into the far corner to make it 2-0. Marsh then hit a shot against the post as Jamaica threatened to run away. The young Reggae Boyz would increase their lead, when another substitute, Jahmari Nolan, fired an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper A’dee Germe in the 54th. Nolan also came close to a second in the 72nd minute, but he fired over the bar from inside the box. The St Lucians got a goal back when Byron capitalised on some hesitancy in defence and lifted the ball over the advancing Murray. livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com Reggae Boyz make perfect start in U17 World Cup Qualifiers
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzNTI=