Mount Nice Soccer Academy’s Kyle Ming (left) and Vere Phoenix United midfielder Tyreek Magee (proper) take part in a Jamaica senior males’s soccer coaching session at Anthony Spaulding Sports activities Complicated forward of a world pleasant match in opposition to Trinidad and Tobago in February 2025. (Photograph: Garfield Robinson)
After choosing probably the most locally-based gamers for an official match with the Reggae Boyz in three years, head coach Steve McClaren says the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) gamers have gained his belief following his go to to the island initially of the yr.
The 23-man squad to face St Vincent and the Grenadines within the Concacaf Gold Cup qualifiers on March 21 and 25 was revealed on Friday with 9 local-based gamers making McClaren’s squad.
Whereas principally JPL gamers have been chosen for worldwide friendlies outdoors of the FIFA window in recent times, it’s the primary time since 2022 that this many local-based gamers will get the chance in a aggressive fixture. Former interim Head Coach Paul Corridor chosen 13 Jamaican-based gamers for the ultimate Concacaf World Cup qualifier in opposition to Honduras in March 2022.
Recent off their battle with Argentina celebrity Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, reigning Jamaica Premier League champions and Caribbean Cup champions Cavalier FC have two gamers within the squad, Captain Richard King and left-back Christopher Ainsworth.
JPL leaders Mount Nice Soccer Academy boast probably the most with 5 gamers: Shaquan Davis, Kyle Ming, Fitzroy Cummings, Jahshaun Anglin, and Captain Sue-Lae McCalla.
JPL main scorer Warner Brown of Arnett Gardens and Vere Phoenix midfielder Tyreek Magee full the local-based gamers.
After watching a lot of JPL video games in January and February in addition to the 2 worldwide friendlies in opposition to Trinidad and Tobago in February, McClaren says the native gamers earned the precise to make the squad.
“The camp we had a couple of weeks in the past, the 2 video games in opposition to Trinidad, we labored almost 5 days with them gave me an excellent perception into the talents, the characters and I actually loved that camp. From that, working with them has given me confidence by which I can put them within the squad and know that they are going to do the job,” he stated.
Though having 9 at the moment, McClaren says there could be a rise within the coming days with Cavalier gamers seemingly being prioritised on account of their spectacular exhibiting in opposition to Inter Miami.
“I’ve seen Cavalier greater than another crew, so I do know their gamers properly. Some gamers had been very shut and are actually actually on standby for the squad as a result of we’ve had accidents already this week and we’ve acquired a weekend to go so we’ll want replacements,” he stated.
“King is an integral a part of our squad, Ainsworth comes into that as properly however they’ve many good gamers we’ve checked out with [Dwayne] Atkinson, [Jalmaro] Calvin, Shamar Watson, Adrian Reid; so there are a lot of good gamers within the Cavalier squad they usually proved that within the two legs in opposition to Inter Miami, so there’s expertise on this island,” McClaren added.
Arnett’s Brown has taken the JPL by storm with a formidable 18 objectives in 26 video games. McClaren believes he may be a part of the crew long run if he makes the precise impression.
“I favored him in [national] camp, he’s a objective scorer. Within the recreation we went to see him for Arnett Gardens, he scored a hat-trick so it’s fairly simple to incorporate him the squad. He’s one in every of them who I believe may also help us affect, he’s a objective scorer, he’s fast, he runs behind and he’s acquired an eye fixed for objective,” McClaren stated.
“We haven’t acquired, within the UK and even on the island, actually standout strikers that we will choose. Shamar Nicholson is available in, Antonio was clearly our primary, Romario Williams was efficient within the two video games earlier than the brand new yr however sadly we will’t get him. So the quantity 9 is a place which we have to discover that hidden gem, so Warner has a possibility within the two video games to seal a spot.”
Nevertheless, with the additions of England-based gamers together with Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, McClaren is optimistic they’ll be capable of qualify for the Gold Cup this summer season.
“We all know this can be a troublesome recreation so the squad is the strongest accessible to us at this current time and a squad that’s ok to get the job. With expertise and gamers who’ve performed for us frequently and gamers we welcome again like Bobby Reid and Ethan Pinnock, so we’re assured we will get the job completed,” he stated.
The primary leg will happen on March 21 away at Arnos Vale Stadium with the second leg set for March 25 at Sabina Park.
Full Squad: Goalkeepers — Andre Blake (captain), Jahmali Waite, Shaquan Davis
Defenders — Ethan Pinnock, Joel Latibeaudiere, Richard King, Amari’i Bell, Kyle Ming, Christopher Ainsworth, Fitzroy Cummings, Dexter Lembikisa
Midfielders — Bobby Reid, Isaac Hayden, Jahshaun Anglin, Sue-Lae McCalla, Kasey Palmer, Tyreek Magee
Forwards — Leon Bailey, Shamar Nicholson, Demarai Grey, Kaheim Dixon, Renaldo Cephas, Warner Brown
MCCLAREN… working with them has given me confidence by which I can put them within the squad and know that they are going to do the jobPhoto: Karl Mclarty
