‘I expect our players to deal with that’
Reggae Boyz boss believes players prepared for hostile Honduras
Published:Sunday | September 8, 2024 | 12:08 AM
REGGAE BOYZ head coach Stephen McClaren says he is looking forward to Jamaica’s second match of the CONCACAF Nations League against Honduras on Tuesday, believing the fixture to be a major test.
While his debut fixture as Reggae Boyz boss ended in frustration following Jamaica’s scoreless draw against Cuba at the National Stadium on Friday night, McClaren is optimistic about going away to the tough Hondurans.
Despite the expectation of a hostile Honduran reception at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés, McClaren believes his charges will put in a good shift.
“I have a lot of ideas about Honduras,” McClaren stated. “We have players in the team who play in hostile atmospheres every week in the Premier League or the Championship. I expect our players to deal with that. I expect them to play with composure.
“It will be a tough game but, with every game we have and with every training session that I have, I am learning more and more about the players and what is required,” he continued.
Jamaica will take much confidence from their recent showings against Honduras, winning on the last five times of the asking, dating back to 2017.
In fact, Jamaica’s last defeat against Honduras came in a World Cup qualifying match back in 2013.
However, Honduras will be buoyed ahead of Tuesday’s fixture after their 4-0 drubbing of Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.
McClaren said the match will be a test of Jamaica’s readiness to remain the top nation in the Caribbean, as well as achieving their ultimate target of qualification to the 2026 World Cup.
“Honduras is a great test and it is a part of the process. It is going to be a long journey. We have our target, which is World Cup 2026, and we have to build towards that so that we’re capable of qualifying and, in the meantime, we have to stay number one in the Caribbean.”
McClaren has had only a handful of sessions with the team and he explained he is still becoming accustomed to the players.
He said, as he integrates with the team further, the better the quality of play expected from his players.
“The first camp is about fact-finding. I have seen the players but I’m now working with them and seeing what they are capable of doing,” he said.
“Honduras, for me, is a great game and it’s a great game for the players. This is what they thrive on. They play in the Championship and the Premier League in the UK, they have this every week. So I expect them to handle it and perform well.”