U23 Boyz seek redemption against Honduras

After their disappointing early exit from the first round of 2020 Olympic qualifiers, Jamaica’s Under-23 men’s football team will seek some early redemption when they take on Honduras in their first match at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, this evening at 8:30 at Estadio Universidad San Marcos.

The young Reggae Boyz and under-pressure coach Donovan Duckie will be hoping that a good tournament will help save some face. However, questions will be asked of whether that can be done – if a team that could only muster 1-1 draws with Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis can get positive results against Honduras, also Peru and Uruguay, who are also in Group B.

The Jamaicans will be hoping to find some spark in some of the new inclusions in the squad, such as national Under-20 player Leonardo Jibbison, former Under-20 midfielder Luca Levee, and playmaker Andre Leslie.

The team will look to Jourdaine Fletcher, Daniel Green, Kaheem Parris, and Deshane Beckford for the goals in the absence of Nicque Daley. Lamar Walker, Tyreek Magee, and Jibbison will provide the creativity in midfield with no Alex Marshall. Javain Brown and goalkeeper Jeadine White will marshal the defence in the absence of Jamoi Topey.

Although the teams have played each other at the international level 25 times, with the Central Americans winning 13 matches to Jamaica’s eight victories, they have not met at this level before.