Boyz hunt another big Nations League win out west
REGGAE BOYZ midfielder Peter-Lee Vassell says playing in his hometown will mean a lot to him when they go up against Suriname in the CONCACAF Nations League match at the Montego Bay Sports Complex this evening at 7 o’clock.
Jamaica who sit sixth on the regional table with six points from two games have played 12th place Suriname (four points) three times in the past with all matches ending 1-0 in favour of the Reggae Boyz.
Earlier this week Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore, a native of St James and a former national player, said playing the game in Montego Bay meant a lot to him. He noted that quite a number of players from the 1998 World Cup team were from western Jamaica.
“It means a lot to me coming to Montego Bay to play such a crucial game for my country. I just need to go out there and do my best as only my best will count,” said Vassell.
“It is going to always motivate us when the home crowd is behind us,” he added.
The game comes on the 21st anniversary of the date which was declared a national holiday after Jamaica qualified for World Cup 1998 in France but Vassell and the other four members from western Jamaica are more focused on today’s game.
“We don’t really talk about it (qualification for France) but the focus remains the same despite playing in Montego Bay. We just have to go out there and showcase our talent because everyone knows what we can do already,” said Vassell.
“Every game counts, no matter which day it is being played. We have to remember all these games are important in qualification for another tournament so we will be approaching it just the same. The guys are ready and prepared for the game and are just looking for a victory,” he added.
The Reggae Boyz have scored ten goals without reply in two games so far in the Nations League.
They beat Cayman Islands 4-0 in September and Bonaire 6-0 last month. The leading marksman is Corey Burke with three goals while Ricardo Morris and Darren Mattocks have scored two each.
Suriname drew 0-0 with Dominica in their opening game in September they drubbed British Virgin Islands 5-0 last month. Jamaica squad: Andre Blake, Cory Burke, Damion Lowe, Ladale Richie, Ricardo Thomas, Amal Knight, Fabion McCarthy, Shaun Francis, Devon Williams, Kemar Lawrence, Ricardo Morris, Javon East, Maalique Foster, Je-Vaughn Watson, Owayne Gordon, Peter-Lee Vassell, Darren Mattocks, Alex Marshall, Jamiel Hardware, Jermaine Taylor.