Under-20 skipper Andre Darby
LAUDERHILL, Florida, USA:
Jamaica's decision to play two practice games here over three days on artificial surface, the country's final warm-up contests before departing for crucial Under-20 World Cup qualifiers in Trinidad and Tobago, has come under scrutiny.
Synthetic surfaces, like the one at the Lauderhill Sports Park (LSP) where the young Reggae Boyz drew 0-0 with a local Under-23 team on Wednesday night, the same field where they will play Canada's Under-20 at 7:30 p.m. tonight, offer smooth, even bounce although the ball moves more quickly than on natural grass.
However, the surface is hard, which can cause stress to players' lower back, knee, ankle and other joints. Players have also been known to get their boots stuck in the surface, causing dislocated joints and torn tendons.
Final-round games
Jamaica's CONCACAF final round games in T&T, between March 6 and 15, will be played on natural grass. If the Boyz advance as one of the top-two teams from Group A, which also includes the United States, El Salvador and the winners of a play-off between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Honduras, the team will qualify for the World Cup in Egypt. It will also likely play round games on artificial surface. The Jamaica Football Federation has defended its decision to play the games at the LSP, explaining they offered competitive preparation for the Boyz and allowed the JFF to save money.
"It was the correct decision, a hundred per cent," said JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, who attended Wednesday's game against the team representing Caribbean Americas Soccer Association (CASA), a South Florida-based organisation which hosted the Jamaica contingent.
Some Jamaican players complained about discomfort in their calves, knees, ankles and lower back. Coach Donovan Duckie admitted that the games at the LPS field were "not ideal". It's not clear what his role was in venue selection.
"The coach's job starts on the field and ends on the field," said Duckie.
However, he also claimed that the games offered his team an opportunity to get familiar with a surface that is growing in popularity worldwide.
"Who knows, this could be a plus for us," Duckie explained. "We'll have to wait and see."
The Boyz, meanwhile, are trying to adapt.
"Some of the players were not used to it," said captain Andre Darby. "The turf is very fast."
But Reneil Sappleton, a striker from Leicester City club in England, shrugged it off.
"It was a bit difficult," said the big striker, who troubled the CASA team with his pace, skill and size. " ... You just have to get on with it."
On Wednesday, the Boyz were plagued by overhit passes and over-dribbling on the quick surface, but gradually became more comfortable, despite wasting numerous scoring chances.
Nobody wants to get hurt
CASA's Florida-based coach Peter Marshall, brother of Jamaica's senior international Tyrone, appeared puzzled by Jamaica's decision to play on the artificial surface.
"Nobody wants to get hurt to go into World Cup," the coach.
The Canadians, who also qualified for the CONCACAF final round, are in Group B, alongside Mexico, Costa Rica and the host nation. Their games in T&T are slated for artificial surface.
Tonight Jamaica are expected to field a full-strength team. Alonzo Adlam, Dever Orgill and Davion Thorpe, will return after being rested against the CASA squad. Duckie said the Boyz will be particularly aware of Canada's quality, which is similar to the US.
"The level of competitiveness (against Canada) will be better," he said. " ... (But) we want to impose our style of play on the game."