Recruitment drive - Whitmore looking to bolster Reggae Boyz squad ahead of Nations League

Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore has identified a number of weak areas in the national side that he will be looking to address ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League in September.

Whitmore told The Gleaner that he has been looking at a number of overseas-based players who he believes can have a positive impact on the team.

"We have a number of issues that we really need to sort out in terms of squad selection, and all of that, and so we have some things to work on," said Whitmore.

"In terms of positions, where players are concerned, there are some areas that have some concern, especially in the centre of midfield, central defence, and creative players," he said.

"We are looking at players to fill those gaps whether they are from England or the US (United States) or anywhere. There are gaps, and we need to fill them," Whitmore said.

He added that the Reggae Boyz would be taking the CONCACAF Nations League very seriously because all teams have been improving significantly, which was very evident at the just-concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia.

NOT TAKING IT LIGHTLY

"You saw the just-concluded World Cup in Russia. You would have known that we can't take anything for granted," said Whitmore. "The big teams that people expected to be at the top, they were out early, and so we cannot take The Cayman [Islands] and Bonaire for granted. We have to go into this tournament well prepared.

"We are also taking this tournament very seriously because it is a tour-nament that qualifies us for the Copa AmÈrica and Gold Cup, and so it is a very serious competition," Whitmore noted.

Meanwhile, as part of their preparations for the CONCACAF Nations League in September, the Reggae Boyz will play friendly matches against Grenada away on August 17 and Barbados on August 20. The team has been in camp since July 6.