Barnes looking to instill Jamaican philosophy

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Newly-appointed national senior football team head coach, John Barnes, said he expects nothing but victories in the two-match series against the Cayman Islands national team and a Cayman Invitational, on the Reggae Boyz short tour.

"We are going to place a lot of emphasis on winning these two matches but more importantly, the way you play will determine whether you win or lose," the Jamaican-born Barnes told The Gleaner in an interview prior to the team's departure, at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday morning.

Squad

The squad consists of mainly local-based players, with European-based midfielder Rudolph Austin and United States-based striker Omar Cummings the exceptions.

The training camp, which is fully covered by the Cayman Islands Football Association
, will form part of Jamaica's preparation for the Digicel Caribbean Cup Championship, the finals of which take place in Jamaica from December 1 to 15.

The Reggae Boyz will play an invitational team and the Cayman Islands national team, which is coached by former Jamaica senior team football captain and head coach, Carl Brown.

Barnes, a former England international, said the majority of squad members will be playing in the Digicel Cup in December, so he will also be using the opportunity to familiarise himself with the players and create an understanding of the "philosophy" he wants to impart.

"It is for me to instill in them a footballing philosophy, which will be the feature of Jamaican football and so it's a great opportunity for me to have them for a week and it is going to be worthwhile," he said.

Youth and experience

The squad is a blend of youth and experience, forward Jermaine Anderson of Waterhouse and Roland Dean of Tivoli Gardens earning a recall, following their good form in the Digicel Premier League.

"The performance is what I am looking for, but normally the performance doesn't mean that we are always going to win," he said. "If you play really well and you do what is asked of you and hit the post 20 times and they have a lucky shot and we lose one-nil, that's fine with me."

Accompanying the team will be head of delegation Peter Reid, Barnes' assistant coach Theodore Whitmore, manager Vin Blaine, press officer Nodley Wright, goalkeeper coach Aaron Lawrence, masseur Pablo Camargo and equipment manager Norman Stone.

Squad: Goalkeepers - Shawn Sawyers and Dwayne Miller. Defenders - Jermaine Taylor, Keniel Moodie, Lance Laing, Adrian Reid, Desmond Breakenridge, Andre Darby and Andre Campbell. Midfielders - Rudolph Austin, Eric Vernon, Nicholy Finlayson, Evan Taylor, Ricardo Cousins, Jermaine Hue. Forwards - Roland Dean, Jermaine Anderson, Omar Cummings, Denzil Watson and Marcelino Blackburn.