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‘Next man up’

Reggae Boy Lawrence urges teammates to be ready replacements for WCQ

Published:Wednesday | September 1, 2021 | 12:11 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Jamaica defender Kemar Lawrence (20) is knocked down by United States defender Shaq Moore (top), as the two compete for control of the ball in the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals football match on Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Arlington, Texa
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Jamaica defender Kemar Lawrence (20) is knocked down by United States defender Shaq Moore (top), as the two compete for control of the ball in the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals football match on Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Lawrence is urging his Reggae Boyz teammates to be ready to play for others who are unavailable for crucial upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

NATIONAL SENIOR men’s football team head coach, Theodore Whitmore, says that the Reggae Boyz have every intent on getting their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a good start despite key absences for tomorrow’s opener against Mexico. The Reggae...

NATIONAL SENIOR men’s football team head coach, Theodore Whitmore, says that the Reggae Boyz have every intent on getting their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a good start despite key absences for tomorrow’s opener against Mexico.

The Reggae Boyz left the island yesterday afternoon to begin a run of qualifying matches, which sees the team playing five of their first seven fixtures away from home, including tomorrow’s contest at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

While the team named a 35-member squad for the games against Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica – inclusive of 15 England-based players – only defender Adrian Mariappa, goalkeeper Dillon Barnes and midfielder Anthony Grant will be available for tomorrow’s game.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), as well as the coaching staff, has had to juggle personnel issues stemming from the English club’s reluctance in recent days to release players to play in countries that are on the United Kingdom’s red list. The concern was without a quarantine exemption they would miss a good portion of their domestic fixtures when they return. With Mexico and Costa Rica being on the red list, Jamaica could be without those players for the two away games.

However, other England-based players will be available for the home game against Panama on Sunday at the National Stadium

“We are without some players but we want to put that behind us. We want to go out there and give ourselves the best (chance) at all times,” said Whitmore, in an interview with RadioJamaicaSports yesterday.

Defender Kemar Lawrence was equally upbeat.

“People have to step up. People have to be ready,” said Lawrence. “This is the opportunity that some other persons are going to get. So it’s next man up.

“We know how the football thing is. The next man has to be ready to come in, do the work and perform,” Lawrence added.

The game will be played without spectators as a result of FIFA’s stadium ban, as punishment for Mexico fans’ discriminatory chanting during a game earlier this year.

Eight players, including Derby County’s Ravel Morrison and Reading’s Liam Moore, arrived in the island on Monday and will be available for Sunday’s second game against Panama at the National Stadium.

Among the England-based contingent is West Ham’s Michail Antonio, who did not arrive on Monday.

JFF general secretary, Dalton Wint, said they expect him to arrive in the island ahead of the Panama game.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com