Reggae Boyz tune up for crucial clash

Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras:

TEAM SPIRIT has been listed by Ren? Simoes as a key ingredient for success against Honduras, when they meet in a CONCACAF semi-final group World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Ol?mpico Metropolitano tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. Jamaica time).

The technical director was not at his team's first training session in Honduras on Sunday night at the Estadio Francisco Moraz?n, but that vibe was clearly evident among the group, one of two that underwent different preparations.

"More than tactics and format, it is the fight that we put in today that will matter," Simoes said pointing to tomorrow's qualifier. "We cannot lose the game."

Statistics

The stats tell the story.

Jamaica, with one point, trail Honduras (three) by two following contrasting results by the teams in Saturday's qualifiers. The Boyz went down 0-3 to Mexico, while Honduras secured a surprise come-from-behind 2-1 result away in Canada.

Mexico lead the group on six points and Canada are level with Jamaica, as they tied one-all in their opening match. All the teams in this group - one of three in the 12-nation play-offs - have played twice.

Only two will qualify from each for the six-nation CONCACAF finals, following which three will automatically advance to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. CONCACAF's fourth-place finisher will tackle the fifth-place team from CONMEBOL (South America) in a home-and-away series for another World Cup berth.

Supervised by physical trainer Junior Samuels on Sunday night, one set did pool stretching for about half hour at the Hilton hotel, where the team is based. That included most of the players who played the full 90 minutes in the 0-3 loss against Mexico on Saturday at the Azteca. It included Tyrone Marshall, Jermaine Taylor, Rudolph Austin, Ricardo Fuller, Deon Burton and Andy Williams. Burton played for 72 minutes.

Ian Goodison and Ricardo Gardner went with the other set to the Estadio Francisco Moraz?n, about 10 minutes from the hotel, but the duo was treated by physiotherapist Jair Lyons for nearly two hours, while their team-mates went through different routines on the pitch at a hectic pace.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Simoes said: "We rest those who played."

Pertaining to the others who trained at the stadium, he said: "You've to force them; the guys have to work hard."

Worked hard

Work hard they did. Goalkeeper coach Chico Santos put custodians Donovan Ricketts and his deputy, Shawn Sawyers, through their paces, while assistant coaches Alfredo Montesso and Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore dealt with the outfield practice.

It started with coned-off, small-area exercises to facilitate possession, quick-thinking, short-passing and angled supporting movements, as well as fast transition from attack to defence, then evolved into a wider game of attacking in one half of the field.

This was made more complex with the addition of two, then a full backline of players, as well as finishing.

Luton Shelton, Demar Phillips, Wolry Wolfe, Jermaine Hue and Davion Thorpe, one of the less-recognised members of the unit, were impressive at times with their finishing.

The gifted Hue, as well as Wolry Wolfe, who has played well in the qualifying series, thus far, were smooth and measured with their passing as they limited touches with good body placement.