Tough task for Boyz - Depleted Jamaica squad faces Saudi Arabia today

Midfielder Ravel Morrison might have to wait a bit longer to make his long-awaited Reggae Boyz début, as word coming out of the camp is that the player is nursing an injury.

Although the extent of the injury is yet to be determined, it appears that the ADO Den Haag player is in serious doubt for the first of Jamaica’s two friendly games against Saudi Arabia today at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium at 11:30 a.m. Jamaica time.

Head coach Theodore Whitmore also faces a challenge to field a balanced team, even though all five outstanding players who had not arrived up to Thursday landed in Saudi Arabia yesterday.

The late arrivals are Michael Hector, Oniel Fisher, Javon East, Jeadine White, and Bobby Reid. However, they will have to undergo a period of quarantine and the results from their COVID-19 tests returned before they are able to join the squad.

As a result, they will not be available for the first encounter, and with the team already short on defensive options, the absence of Hector and Fisher will be significant.

Also, the team has only been able to have two training sessions heading into the game, compared to the Saudis, who have been in full training for some time.

Whitmore, who played in the first of four meetings between the nations, a 0-0 draw in 1998, recalled that the Saudis back then were an excellent ball-possession team and very solid in defence.

And although much time has passed since then, he does not expect much change in their approach or standard of play.

“They are still one of the top-notch teams in Asia, and this upcoming friendly against them, I can only see positives from it for us,” Whitmore said.

He said that despite the challenges they face ahead of the game, playing against a team at the level of Saudi Arabia can only assist players and help the team to continue to grow as a unit.

“Away games can only improve our players mentally and physically,” Whitmore said. “The travel, the training, being in an environment with over 70,000 people in the stadium can only help them prepare for the rigours of football, so I look at this as a win-win for us.

“The more we play friendlies, the more we can develop as a unit and continue with our good display.”

Saudi Arabia last played in December last year. The Herve Renard-coached team will be without experienced players Yahya Al-Shehri, Abdullah Otayf, and first-choice goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, and have called up a six new players for the match.

Jamaica, who are 48th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, last played in a 2-0 win over Bermuda on Wednesday, March 11.

rachid.parchment@gleanerjm.com