Jamaica's Tyrone Marshall (centre) celebrates scoring in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on March 26 at the National Stadium. - File

EXPERIENCED JAMAICA defender Tyrone Marshall is impressed with the standard of play in the Digicel Caribbean Championship, which comes to an end tomorrow with the Reggae Boyz facing Grenada in the final at the National Stadium.

Marshall who made his debut for Jamaica in 2000 and now plays professionally for Toronto Football Club in the North American Major League Soccer (MLS), said he has seen a marked improvement in the passing and general use of the ball.

"In the past, in Caribbean competition, the better teams were the ones putting the ball on the ground and knocking it around trying to create things. Now, everybody is trying to play the ball and doing their thing with some type of purpose," Marshall said.

The 34-year-old Marshall, who attended Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory and St. George's College before migrating to the US in the 1980s, says there are no longer any real weak teams in the Caribbean competition.

"Some people think certain teams are weak, but at the same time, Grenada were not supposed to beat Trinidad and Tobago and they did so. Trinidad, one of the better teams, are now out of the competition. Everybody has to play well and that shows the level is definitely higher than what people expect," he said.

Good for development

Marshall, who has also played for Colorado Rapids, Miami Fusion and LA Galaxy in the MLS, thinks the Digicel Caribbean Championship is especially good for the development of young players.

"This tournament gives them some exposure on the international stage. They get the awareness that when you play in an international tournament this is what you are going to encounter. You have to use them (regional tournaments) as a measuring stick for where you are and what you can do as a player. So, when you are called upon to play games in front of a bigger audience, you are ready to rise to the occasion."

The Cubans are now out of contention for top spot in the tournament and will be seeking third place tomorrow but they have impressed Marshall with their sense of purpose.

"I have watched the Cubans. They are very good, very calm. Obviously, they have a system that they play with, no matter what the situation. If they are down one or up two, whatever it may be, they still play their system ... play to whatever their strategy is. This is very impressive because normally when teams are down one, or up two, they tend to change their type of play," said Marshall.

Looking ahead, Marshall says the CONCACAF Gold Cup next summer will be very important for the Reggae Boyz.

"We have failed to reach the final stages of World Cup qualifying, so there is an extra motivation for us to go out there and have a good showing so that we can improve our standing in the region. It's the big competition in the region where we will be playing the stronger teams such as the US, Mexico and Costa Rica."

According to Marshall, playing well in the Gold Cup will also help to lift Jamaica's current FIFA ranking. The Reggae Boyz are currently ranked 83. This puts them below Cuba (73) and Trinidad and Tobago (78), two teams which are already out of contention for the Caribbean title.

"People have said (in the past) that rankings are not important but we now know it is important as it helps to decide whether local players, or those already playing overseas, renew or get new contracts."

Unsure

The national midfielder, who has already said the recent World Cup qualifying campaign was his last, is unsure how much longer he will wear national colours but hopes he has been a role model for the younger players. He will continue to play as long as he can give '110 per cent' to the team.

"For me, if I am not 110 per cent committed, I do not want to play as you are cheating yourself, you are cheating your teammates and, most importantly, you are cheating your country.

"For me, there are other players who are coming up in the ranks and I am hoping that they can look at my standards and that of other veteran players and step in now and start to take the reins. ... I am not going to be the one who is going to play forever and having the football push me away with people saying this guy is washed up and needs to stop playing now. I will leave on my own terms and, once everything is safe, I will definitely step away."

When he steps away from the game Marshall, who has 70 caps, will have lots of time for his hobbies such as listening to music, playing basketball and "enjoying a good book to keep the mind active".