Boyz look to clear Panama hurdle ahead of Gold Cup

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will continue their preparation for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which kicks off in the United States early next month, when they tackle traditionally tough rivals Panama in a friendly international at the National Stadium, at 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Though yet to have a full strength squad available, with a few European players yet to join the fray, the Reggae Boyz have not exactly set the field on fire in recent games. A mostly local squad played their way to 2-2 draw against Haiti, putting in a much better performance, but could not find the net in a 0-0 draw with El Salvador last weekend.

red card

However, with five players - central midfielders Rodolph Austin, Khari Stephenson, wingers Demar Phillips, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and defender Claude Davis -who missed the last friendly after being out on a red card joining the team this week, the Jamaicans have their strongest squad to date.

Stephenson and Austin are generally expected to replace the pair of Richard Edwards and Steven Morrison, despite splendid performances from the two in the last game. For Reggae Boyz coach John Barnes, who is putting a new 4-4-2 formation on trial, the team is a work in progress but constantly improving.

"It's getting better, more intense. We saw the inclusion of the overseas players and there was a rise in the performances. So I would say things are going ok, and I am really looking forward to tomorrow," Barnes said.

"I have in my head what it is I want to do, who I plan to play, and how I want the team to play," he added.

The Panamanians have always been tough opposition for the Jamaicans. In fact, with three wins, six draws and only one loss to the Boyz, it is the Central Americans who boast the better record.

In 2004, Panama silenced the office with a 2-1 victory that effectively knocked the Jamaicans out of World Cup-qualifying contention. The Reggae Boyz have not beaten them since, drawing their next three encounters, the most recent a 1-1 stalemate at the National Stadium in 2007.