Knight praises Whitmore’s youth focus
Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Amal Knight lauded head coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore for the inclusion of young players in the squad for upcoming friendly international games ahead of the inaugural Nations League next month.
The team will depart Jamaica today at 4:05 p.m. for Grenada, who they will face in an international friendly game on Friday at 7 p.m. Jamaica time. The game will be played at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St Georges.
The delegation will then travel to Barbados to play that nation on August 21, also at 7 p.m. Jamaica time.
Jamaica is using both games in preparation for the start on the Nations League, which sees Jamaica hosting the Cayman Islands on Sunday, September 9, at the National Stadium.
“Coach (Theodore) Whitmore is good in terms of harnessing young talent into the senior team. We have gone through training camps and the senior team played the Confederations Under-23 teams in practisce games and several young players were picked for the upcoming friendly international games,” Knight told STAR Sports on the eve of the team’s departure.
“Based on the performances of the young players during camps, they have adapted to the senior set-up and it is a positive move by coach Whitmore in terms of development. It is a good move by the JFF to have these local camps in order to build players for the future,” he added.
“We have gone to St Kitts and Grenada recently with a group of local players and it will be the same thing for the upcoming games. This will enhance the players and give them a chance to get exposure on the international scene,” said Knight, who plays for UWI FC in the Red Stripe Premier League.
“These games will show how far we are in the build-up to the Nations League starting next month. Hopefully, we can get some favourable results heading into the Nations League,” he concluded.