Under-23s eye historic Olympic berth

Jamaica men's Olympic team will depart today to participate in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifiers in the Dominica Republic intent on a historic berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

First, the Jamaica Under-23 team will have to top Group 3 in order to advance to the Caribbean final round to be played in August. Then the top two Caribbean teams will qualify for the CONCACAF tournament in October.

"Jamaica have never qualified for an Under-23 Olympic tournament, so the players and coaching staff are fully aware of that," assistant coach Jerome Waite told The Gleaner yesterday.

"They are working pretty hard and are a useful bunch with professional players like Michael Seaton and Jamar Loza included," he disclosed.

The final 20-man squad was selected last weekend after several camps, and Waite is satisfied.

"The camp has brought the group together, giving them a chance to know each other," Waite added.

Jamaica will tackle St Lucia tomorrow, then the hosts, Dominica Republic, four days later. The group winners will advance to the next round.

Head coach Miguel Coley will join the squad following his trip to the Copa America tournament in Chile with the senior team.

The players making the trip are: Omar Holness, Damion Lowe, AndrÈ Lewis, Romario Williams, Paul Wilson, Kereen Manning, Ramone Howell, Sean McFarlane, Junior Flemmings, Haddad Patrick Khouri, Kevaughn Frater, Sheldon McKoy, Vishinul Harris, AndrÈ Morrison, Nico Campbell, Michael Seaton, Richard Trench, Rickardo Oldham, and Jamar Loza.

The other members of the Jamaican contingent are Donald Beckford (head of delegation), coaches Miguel Coley, Jerome Waite and Andrew Edwards; Dr Ephraim Ingram (team doctor), Howard Bell (team manager), and Lloyd Holm (equipment manager).