Nicholson focuses on breaking the drought
Published:Sunday | June 12, 2022 | 12:11 AMRobert Bailey - Gleaner Writer
To access this article in full please login or register today
REGGAE BOYZ striker Shamar Nicholson says he is determined to break his scoring drought for the national side against Mexico when both teams meet in their Nations League encounter on Tuesday at the National Stadium. Nicholson, who has scored 10...
REGGAE BOYZ striker Shamar Nicholson says he is determined to break his scoring drought for the national side against Mexico when both teams meet in their Nations League encounter on Tuesday at the National Stadium.
Nicholson, who has scored 10 goals from 30 appearances since making his debut for the Reggae Boyz in 2017, last netted for the national senior team in September of last year against Costa Rica in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers.
However, he scored the time he played against the Mexicans at the Azteca Stadium in the World Cup qualifiers last September.
Nicholson told The Sunday Gleaner he is excited at the prospect of breaking his drought against a team he knows.
“I know how to score against them because I have done this before in the World Cup qualifiers in Mexico, so that will drive fear in the Mexican players when they see me on the field,” said Nicholson.
“It has been a while since I have scored for the national team and so in this last game of this round, I would love to sign off with a goal and victory for the team,” he said.
The Reggae Boyz, who failed to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament, which will be held in Qatar, are coming off a 3-1 home victory over Suriname in their last Nations League contest last Tuesday.
Nicholson, who plies his trade for Russian Premier League team Spartak Moscow, played the full 90 minutes, but he failed to get on the scoresheet for the Reggae Boyz.
The former Boys’ Town striker pointed out that Tuesday’s match is going to be a very tough game because the Mexicans are coming here for all three points against the Jamaicans.
POWERHOUSE TEAM
“Mexico is always in the top two in Concacaf because they are a powerhouse team and so playing against them, you don’t need motivation and so I am ready for this game,” Nicholson said.
“There are coming to win because they are preparing for the World Cup so it is an important game for them,” he said.
The lanky striker believes the Reggae Boyz have done well in their last two matches and, therefore, he is hoping that they carry this momentum into Tuesday’s game.
“It is not like they are coming here to lie down and die and so we just have to be ready because it is going to be very tough for us,” Nicholson.
“We have done well in the last two games with this crop of players that we got so I am pretty confident that we can come away with the win,” he said.
Nations League Squad vs Mexico
Andre Blake Philadelphia Union
Kemar Foster Waterhouse FC
Jahmali Waite Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Jordan Scarlett Tampa Bay Rowdies
Ricardo Thomas Waterhouse FC
Damion Lowe Inter-Miami
Jamoi Topey Mount Pleasant
Earl Simpson Arnett Gardens FC
Amarii Bell Luton Town
Javain Brown Vancouver Whitecaps
Devon Williams Miami FC
Ravel Morison Derby County
Kevon Lambert Phoenix Rising
Tyreek Magee Eupen
Daniel Green Mount Pleasant
Junior Flemmings Toulouse
Atapharoy Bygrave Dunbeholden
Oquassa Chong Esbjerg fB
Leon Bailey Aston Villa
Kaheem Parris FC Koper
Shamar Nicholson Spartak Moscow
Rolando Aarons Huddersfield
Jamal Lowe AFC Bournemouth