Downswell expects U-23s to win 'difficult' series

Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

In their bid to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Jamaica's national Under-23 team will leave the island today for Haiti to participate in the second round of the Caribbean qualification series.

Jamaica are in Group H along with The Bahamas and hosts, Haiti. The qualifiers will run from today through to Saturday and the group winner will progress to the CONCACAF U-23 final round tournament where two teams will qualify for next year's Olympics in China.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has confirmed that Portmore United utility player Rafe Wolfe and Luton Shelton have joined the squad.

Good chance of winning

Wendell Downswell, the team's coach, said his players have a good chance of advancing.

"It won't be an easy task, the competition will be more forceful and difficult," he told The Gleaner yesterday. He added that his players had "relatively good experience" and he expects his team to be victorious.

In Caribbean qualifiers held from August 31-September 13, the Jamaicans scored 12 goals while winning all its matches against Aruba, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.

All games in this phase are to be played at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, beginning at 4:00 p.m. On October 9, Haiti will battle The Bahamas, while Jamaica will face The Bahamas on October 11 and Haiti on October 13.

Carlton Dennis will head the delegation, while Downswell, trainer Sean Samuels, manager Howard Bell and team doctor Mark Sanderson are the other officials.

Squad: Dwayne Kerr, Dwayne Miller, Xavian Virgo, Keneil Moodie, Ajuran Brown, Troy Smith, Obrian Woodbine, Adrian Reid, Rodolph Austin, Rafe Wolfe, Royal Whitestar, Bryan Bayliss, Norman Bailey, Nicholy Findlayson, Eric Vernon, Ricardo Cousins, Luton Shelton, Keammar Daley, Donovan Davis.