Young Boyz look to turn back Honduras

Jamaica College Manning Cup coach Davion Ferguson expects an improved performance from the national under-20 team when they play hosts and leaders Honduras in their second Group H match of the Concacaf Under-20 championship at 8.30 p.m. today. The match will be played at the Estadio Francisco Morazan in San Pedro Sula.

Ferguson pointed out that the young Reggae Boyz played their first international game together at the weekend, and he believes they will get stronger with more games.

“When you look at the overall game (Saturday), I thought we were good enough to get a point. It is a pity the preparation for the group wasn’t much longer and a bit more specific to preparing for this tournament.

“The preparation was awful. Having an under-20 unit and not having even one international practice game is embarrassing.

“Yesterday (Saturday) was their first game together, and the more they play in this tournament and the longer they go on is the greater their chances of playing at their full potential.

“But after seeing the Honduran team, the Costa Ricans, and the Jamaican team, I think it will be a similar game to what is was yesterday (Saturday).

“But the more we play in this tournament, the closer we will get to our true potential, and I think that if this team is at its full potential, or even close to that. we should be able to win the game,” he said.

Honduras eased past Antigua and Barbuda 3-0 in their opening match and sit two points clear of Jamaica and Costa Rica, who drew 1-1 in their opening match, and Ferguson expects the hosts to be bursting with confidence.

However, he wants to see more enterprise on the offensive side from the Jamaicans.

CONFIDENCE BOOSTER

“It will not be easy because Honduras won their first game, and that is a confidence booster, and they are looking to seal qualification to the next round against us.

“We have some good players, both local and overseas, and we have a good chance of winning the game.

“We didn’t score from open play, and I didn’t think we created enough to suggest that we had any chance of scoring from open play. So that is something we will have to look at,” he said.

In the Costa Rica game, Jamaica got good performances from goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Luke Bradley-Morgan, Tyler Roberts, along with substitutes Chad James, who was lively, and Jamari Clarke, who had a big hand in Jamaica’s first penalty,which Duncan McKenzie failed to convert.

The big striker earned a second penalty in added time and sent the Costa Rican goalkeeper the wrong way for the equaliser.

“Based on what I have seen. The result can go either way by a one-goal margin, but we should have enough. The coach (Marcel Gayle) is getting to know some of his better players, and if we have our better players on the pitch from the start, I think we will have a great chance of getting the win,” Ferguson added.

The top three teams from the group are guaranteed a place in the next round.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com