TIME

the region.”

What gives Lowe confidence in the Reggae Boyz’s chances to match the heroics of 1998 is the number of local-born players currently in the squad that are plying their trade overseas, from the United States to those establishing themselves in Europe.

“This is the most we’ve had [Jamaica-born] footballers playing professionally overseas. [We are] getting a lot of players in Europe again because there was a time when that wasn’t present. It was just maybe one or two players playing in Europe. There was a gap. Now players are getting more opportunities to go straight from the [local] premier league or high school into the United Soccer League, transitioning from Major League Soccer into Europe, or going straight from Jamaica into Europe,” he said. “That experience we gain while playing in Europe, we carry that back to the national team and it is going to help us a lot.”

Among the national players currently playing in Europe are

‘This is the most we’ve had [Jamaica-born] footballers playing professionally overseas. [We are] getting a lot of players in Europe again because there was a time when that wasn’t present.’

Shamar Nicholson, Tyreek Magee and Kemar Lawrence, who are all currently playing in Belgium; Leon Bailey who plays in the German Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, and Dever Orgill who is in Turkey.

Lowe says that the potential of the team is no secret and that it is up to them to take care of business.

“Everybody knows that we have the potential. Everybody knows that we are good enough to make it. The players believe that we can make it. It’s just all a matter of formalities, just get the job done.”