JFF has high expectations for Caribbean Cup

JAMAICA FOOTBALL Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts is optimistic that a trio of Jamaica Premier League (JPL) teams readying for the 2024 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Shield and CONCACAF Caribbean Cup will do well.

Cavalier, Mount Pleasant Academy, and Arnett Gardens are set to compete in the regional competitions after finishing as the top three clubs from last season’s JPL.

Arnett, who finished third, will compete in the CFU Club Shield while champions Cavalier and runners-up Mount Pleasant will contest the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup.

Ricketts’ confidence comes largely because of the JPL teams’ strong performances at the Caribbean Cup last year.

Two of the three Jamaican clubs last year made it to the semi-finals, with Cavalier finishing as runners-up behind Surinamese outfit SV Robinhood.

“Last year we had two of our three clubs in the competition advance to the semi-finals and eventually finish second and fourth, and this year, I have high expectations of how all three of our clubs will do,” he said.

“It would be wonderful to have our three Jamaican clubs in the semi-finals of the Caribbean Cup.”

Ricketts said the competitions offer an opportunity for local-based players to compete against regional competition and further hone their skills.

The exposure from the competition, he said, would also increase their chances of attracting interest from international clubs.

“This is great exposure for our domestic-based players as well as they get experience against clubs across the region, and this will continue to develop them, which can only open up further opportunities to play club football overseas.”

Arnett will be the first Jamaica team in action as they begin their journey in the Club Shield from July 25 to August 4.

They face Racing Club Aruba in the Round of 16 on July 27 in host nation Curaçao.

The top two teams from the Club Shield will advance to the Caribbean Cup set to run from August 20 to December 5.

Cavalier and Mount Pleasant have been drawn in Group A of the Caribbean Cup alongside Haitian club Real Hope, Police FC of Trinidad and Tobago, and the winner of the 2024 Club Shield.

The first round of matches in the Caribbean Cup group stage is set for August 20 to 22.