Current national captain Ricardo Gardner, or 'Bibi', as he is fondly called, is the poster boy of focus, hard work and its rewards in Jamaican football. Not seen by many as the most naturally gifted of his generation, Gardner, despite his slender frame, puts everything into his game.

The former Wolmer's Manning Cup star made the decision, considered risky by some at the time, to choose football over academics to be a part of the Road to France campaign and has not suffered for it. Now a multi-millionaire in any currency, Gardner played a big part in Jamaica's first goal in the World Cup Finals with a sweet cross which Robbie Earle thumped into the back of the Croatian net.

Gardner's stellar performance in France, his attitude and his age found favour with then English First Division club Bolton Wanderers, which gave Harbour View £1 million to sever ties with the player. That made him the first locally grown Jamaican, in over 50 years, to sign a professional contract with an English League club. The legendary Lindy Delapenha preceded him.

Gardner's time at Bolton has been eventful and has seen him unseat Scott Sellars as the first-string left-back months into his contact, scoring spectacular goals, including one on his debut against Hawthorns, with just two minutes left on the clock. He has had a number of serious knee injuries and maybe only Ricardo Fuller as a Jamaican international can rival him for the number of times he has been under the knife.

Now into his 12th year as a national player, approaching 100 caps and into his 10th year at Bolton and back to full fitness, the now dreadlocked 'Reggae Lion' is ready for battle once more.

FACT FILE

NAME: RICARDO GARDNER

DOB: September 25, 1978

POSITION: Midfielder/defender

CAPS: 100

GOALS: 9

DEBUT: 1996

CURRENT CLUB: Bolton Wanderers

PREVIOUS CLUB: Harbour View FC

Achievements: Member of Jamaica's historic squad which qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France; first home-grown Jamaican since the legendary Lindy Delapenha to earn a professional contract in England.

Ian Goodison

After being largely ignored in the 2006 Germany World Cup campaign, Ian 'Pepe' Goodison has forced his way back into the national reckoning with outstanding performances for his English club Tranmere Rovers. Following the return of technical director René Simoes, he was brought back into the fold by the man who gave him his debut in 1996 and who led the national team to its historic World Cup berth in France 1998.

Goodison held on to his place with the kind of performance which belies the fact that he is in his 36th year. After being brought back into the English game by Brian Little, his former manager at Hull City, where he played alongside countryman and one of the current national assistant coaches, Theodore Whitmore, Goodison has cemented his place in the team and worked his way up to club captain.

What makes Goodison stand out in any team despite his lack of pace, is his timing, his ability to read the game and a willingness to sacrifice himself for the team.

In perhaps his most famous game for Jamaica, a hobbling Goodison showed courage in staying on the field, when lesser men would have quit, and managed to head home the goal which gave Jamaica its first and only win over Mexico at the senior level and a place in the CONCACAF final round of qualifiers, from which they advanced to the finals in France 1998.

These qualities and more make this strong tackler, who captained the national team to its historic win 2-1 win over Japan in the World Cup Finals in which he played all three games, all the more admirable. Younger and upcoming players would do well to take a chapter out of his book.

FACT FILE

NAME: Ian Goodison

DOB: November 21, 1972

POSITION: Defender

CAPS: 95

GOALS: 2

DEBUT: 1996

CURRENT CLUB: Tranmere Rovers 2004 - present

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Olympic Gardens 1994-1999, Hull City 1999-2002, Seba United

ACHIEVEMENTS: Member of historic World Cup Qualifying team.