‘Back the Boyz’

With the inclusion of a longstanding target as well as one slated for the future of the senior programme, national men’s senior head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has called on the country to back the Reggae Boyz on their Concacaf Gold Cup campaign, with their goal of winning the title not changing despite recent results in their build-up.

Hallgrimsson announced his 23-man squad yesterday after Jamaica were defeated by Jordan 2-1 in their final warm-up game at the Weiner Neustadt Ergo Arena. The squad is headlined by the inclusion of Everton winger Demarai Gray who Hallgrimsson confirmed completed his international switch to Jamaica. Also included is Dujuan Richards who will be competing in his first major global senior tournament.

Gray was born in Birmingham, England and represented that country at the under-21 level from 2016-2019. He had previously played for the country at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.

With a belief that they have chosen the best squad possible in their bid for a maiden major continental title, Hallgrimsson’s message to Jamaica was simple, back the players.

“We think these players can do the job for us. I hope that Jamaicans will support these players. These guys will represent Jamaica and we certainly wish that Jamaicans will support them in the Gold Cup,” Hallgrimsson said in yesterday’s press conference.

Hallgrimsson is encouraged by Gray’s inclusion. The player has been linked to the national team for more than a year. While documentation played a role in his inability to join the camp in Austria, he is excited to have Gray in the team, describing him as a player that fits the country’s playing identity.

Flair and speed

“He is really eager to come. If the papers had gone through earlier, he would have been with us in Austria. He is a player that fits the playing style of Jamaica. He has flair and he has speed,” Hallgrimsson said. “But first and foremost, he is a good individual and a good personality and I think he will bring a lot of personality into our camp. We are looking forward to meeting him in the US.”

With Richards’s inclusion ahead of players such as Cavalier’s Collin Anderson who was the Jamaica Premier League’s golden boot winner with 20 goals, Hallgrimsson said: “He has quality in his armoury that is way beyond a 17-year-old. You never know with a 17-year-old where their career will go. But at this stage, we believe that he can go all the way and be one of the best players for Jamaica in the future.

“When there is a squad for a tournament, there are always going to be a few players that will not have a lot of playing time. And we would rather have those players young so that they can gain experience.”

Hallgrimsson will enter his first continental tournament with Jamaica still searching for his first win as head coach, with back-to-back defeats to Qatar and Jordan during the camp in Austria. But even though the results have not been positive recently, Hallgrimsson said that the goal that he had set for the team earlier in the year has not changed.

“The expectations are the same. We have the players and the quality to reach the final stages of this tournament. And what we did, two years, four years ago our six years ago doesn’t destroy anything for us,” Hallgrimsson said. The team will include Adrian Mariappa as well as a return for Ethan Pinnock. However, Pinnock’s arrival in the United States is pending because of a family emergency.

The team departed today for Chicago where they will face the United States in their opening group game on Saturday.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com

Jamaica Gold Cup Squad

Andre Blake

Jahmali Waite

Coniah Boyce-Clarke

Amari’i Bell

Ethan Pinnock

D’Shon Bernard

Adrian Mariappa

Dexter Lembiksa

Damion Lowe

Javian Brown

Kemar Lawrence

Kevon Lambert

Jonathan Russell

Joel Latibeaudiere

Bobby Reid

Daniel Johnson

Kahrem Parris

Michail Antonio

Cory Burke

Shamar Nicholson

Leon Bailey

Dujuan Richards

Demarai Gray