Victory is crucial, says Burrell

Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

WHEN THE Reggae Boyz challenge Honduras at the National Stadium this evening at 7:00, apart from reconstructing their CONCACAF semi-final Group Two World Cup qualifying hopes, they will be looking to rebuild the country's programme.

"I've had a few team meetings with the players and coaching staff at which time I outlined the importance of excellence in the three games and also the importance to the continuance of our national football programme," Captain Horace Burrell, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president noted, pointing to the negative spin-offs should the situation be otherwise.

Jamaica are currently ranked 116 by the sport's world governors, FIFA, and Burrell says if their standing in global circles continues to spiral, among other things, it would diminish opportunities for local players to play professionally in England.

Did not land jobs

This past year, two Reggae Boyz did not land jobs with British clubs for that same reason.

Midfielder Rudolph Austin was unable to secure a transfer from Portmore United to English Premiership team Stoke City, worth ?1 million; and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who was attached to English League Two team Bradford City, had his application for an extension of his work permit turned down by the British Home Office.

Burrell said he stressed such reasons.

"In addition, I took time out to explain that unless we were able to improve our current ranking by putting in a series of outstanding performances on the field of play, then the possibilities of our young players being able to secure contracts in England would simply be a thing of the past and that they were the only ones who could change this," he said.

"I explained that the continuance in the low position in the rankings which we had found ourselves would lead to the demise of the national programme. It really would, from the lack of sponsorship to lack of international games as we would not be able to attract worthy opponents to oppose us in international friendly matches ... and our branding, the Reggae Boyz, would be seriously and further impaired, which would eventually retard Jamaica's football development."

Jamaica beat CONCACAF giants and FIFA's No. 24 ranked team, Mexico, 1-0 in the first of those three matches, in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.

They play the second against Honduras this evening at 7:00, and the next on November 19 against Canada, at 'The Office'.

Qualifying play-offs

The Boyz are now third on four points in the quadrangular play-off from which two will qualify.

Honduras and Mexico are tied atop the standings on nine while Canada are bottom of the group with a point.

Only two will advance to the six-nation CONCACAF finals, which automatically qualifies three teams to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. The fourth-place country will play South America's fifth-place team in a home and away play-off for another 2010 finals spot.