‘There is something to build on’
Reggae Boyz Brown, Gray committed to rebuilding process
Published:Saturday | February 5, 2022 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Despite another World Cup cycle coming to a disappointing end, national defender Javain Brown and striker Andre Gray are adamant about the players’ commitment to the ongoing rebuilding process and to finish the rest of their final round schedule on a positive note.
The Reggae Boyz were eliminated from qualifying after their 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Wednesday at the National Stadium, having not won a game at home so far in the final round and are winless under interim head coach Paul Hall.
But even as the frustration and disappointment of the campaign have settled in, Brown said that they have to look to the horizon to improve and that the players are still committed and motivated for their final three games, to better themselves and to start the road to recovery
“We need to learn, use these games to get the group better each and every time. I think the group of players are committed to come to the next camp and do their best,” Brown, a defender for Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, North America, told The Gleaner.
NO INTENTION OF LEAVING
It is a commitment that Gray, a forward for Queen’s Park Rangers in the English Championship, has made in the aftermath of the Costa Rican defeat. Having made his Jamaica debut last year after waiting to make his international switch official, he says that there is enough to build on and he has no intention of leaving things unfinished with the Reggae Boyz
“I want to continue 100 per cent. I think there is something to build on. I didn’t come just to do the World Cup. I said it before. It took two and a half years to get my passport. So it wasn’t to come and qualify for the World Cup and to disappear,” Gray said. “I want to do the Nations League and the Gold Cup again next year. It has been difficult. We haven’t been together long, so hopefully now we can stay together and build on it now for the next year.”
While not pointing out specific reasons as to why the campaign fell flat, Gray said that it was unfortunate that their play against Costa Rica as well as the fighting mentality shown against Mexico was not rewarded with wins.
“There are a lot of things (that went wrong) but you can’t make excuses. I feel like this campaign we’ve done well (performance wise) but we haven’t won a game. That’s what football is all about. I’d rather us not played well and won all three games than what has happened now,” Gray said.
Jamaica will finish their final round games in March when they face Honduras, Canada and El Salvador before their next international assignment in the Concacaf Nations League. The official draw will take place in April and they will begin play in League A in June with group stage matches.