Nine local-based players in Gold Cup squad

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has named nine players from local Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) clubs in the 23-man squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament to be staged in the United States next month.

Among the local players are the RSPL's top marksman and MVP Jermaine Johnson of Tivoli Gardens and top junior player Shamar Nicholson of Boys' Town.

Also included is Darren Mattocks of Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers. Mattocks made his senior team debut for Jamaica in 2012 against El Salvador and last played for the country in the 2016 Gold Cup final, where he scored in the 1-3 loss in the final against Mexico.

The 37-year-old Johnson, who made a return to international duties after a three-year absence, scored in a recent friendly against Peru. The 20-year-old Nicholson made his debut last February during a 1-0 loss to the USA in another friendly at the Finley Stadium in the USA.

The Reggae Boyz will play in Group C at the Gold Cup and face off against Curacao on July 9 in San Diego; then against Mexico on July 13 in Denver, and close the group stage against El Salvador in San Antonio..

The 23-man squad: Andre Blake of Philadelphia Union), Damion Hyatt of Arnett Gardens, Dwayne Miller (Valsta Syrianska, Sweden), Sergio Campbell (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), Oneil Fisher (Seattle Sounders), Rosario Harriott (Harbour View), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls), Damion Lowe (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers), Jermaine Taylor (Minnesota United), Kevon Lambert (FK Vovjodina, Serbia), Je-Vaughn Watson (New England Revolution), Cory Burke (Bethlehem Steele), Darren Mattocks, (Portland Timbers), Dever Orgill (Wolfsberger AC, Austria), Romario Williams (Charleston Battery), Ladale Ritchie (Montego Bay United), Michael Binns (Portmore United), Ewan Grandison (Portmore United), Ricardo Morris (Portmore United), Owayne Gordon (Montego Bay United), Jermaine Johnson (Tivoli Gardens) and Shamar Nicholson (Boys' Town).