Damion Stewart's Jamaica Play Chile Tonight

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Jamaica Observer - BOYZ FACE CHILE EXAM
Progress of players delights coaching staff
IAN BURNETT, Sports Editor Tuesday, June 05, 2007

ALL EYES ON THE BALL: Reggae Boyz (from left) Fabian Davis, Luton Shelton and Damion Stewart challenge for the ball during the team's last training session at Kirkvine in Manchester yesterday. Looking on is Ricardo Fuller. (Photo: Michael Blair)

Technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic makes another attempt at his first outright win when his Jamaican Reggae Boyz oppose Chile in an international football friendly at the "Office" this evening at 7:00.
... DOWNSWELL... preparation has been good and the cool climatic condition was ideal
Today, Bora continues the first phase of his 'Back to Africa' Reggae Boyz project when he parades a team comprising mainly locally-based players, as he continues to comb the island for talent that he hopes will form a larger pool of players for the more important World Cup qualifiers next year.
The 23-man squad sees four overseas-based players - Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City, English Championship), Luton Shelton (Sheffield United, English Championship), Damion Stewart (Queen's Park Rangers, English Championship) and Sean Fraser (Miami FC, US A League), who joined the group yesterday morning. Stewart is a late addition to the squad.
Captain Ricardo Gardner of Bolton Wanderers (English Premiership) and Khari Stephenson (AIK Stockholm, Sweden) were also invited, but declined the invitation for different reasons.
Gardener asked to be excused for personal family matters, while Stephenson opted out after having only recently recovered from a broken arm which required surgery.
The 62-year-old Bora has been working with the assistance of Wendell Downswell since February.
The Boyz, listed 69 on the latest Coca-Cola FIFA World Ranking, began training on May 25 at the Kirkvine and Brancourt facilities from their Golf View Hotel in Mandeville.
Downswell told the Observer yesterday that the technical staff is pleased with the progress of the group.
"Preparation has been good, we have been training twice daily at Kirkvine and Brancourt and the cool climatic condition was ideal," Downswell said.
"We are satisfied with the effort the players put in, especially this morning (yesterday). The emphasis was on educating the players, to become good students of the game through a number of video sessions. They were conditioned to play tight and compact as a unit... especially defensively. Offensively, the emphasis was on ball possession and good decision-making.
Jamaica (from): Andre Redwood, Mario Harrison, Allien Whittaker, Nicholy Finlayson, Jermaine Taylor, Demar Phillips, Donald Stewart, Richard McCallum, Fabian Taylor, Lovel Palmer, Wolry Wolfe, Christopher Harvey, Mario Swaby, Richard Edwards, Adrian Reid, Damion Stewart, Keneil Moodie, Luton Shelton, Donovan Davis, Sean Fraser, Fabian Davis, Ricardo Fuller and Xavian Virgo.
Chile (from): Claudio Bravo Muñoz, Hector Sanhuez Medel, Nicolás Peric Villarreal, Jode Cabion Dianta, Rodrigo Meléndez Araya, Alvaro Ormneno Salazar, Manuel Iturra Urrutia, Gonzalo Fierro Caniullan, Carlos Villanueva Rolland, Sebastian Roco Melgarejo, Matías Fernández Fernández, Ismael Fuentes Castro, Jorge Valdivia Toro, Pablo Contreras Fica, Luis Jiménez Garcés, Jorge Vargas Palacios, Arturo Vidal Pardo, Reinaldo Navia Amador, Rodrigo Tello Valenzuela, Humberto Suazo Pontivo, Roberto Gutiérrez Gamboa. .
Jamaica Observer

Jamaica Gleaner - Reggae Boyz face Chile test at 'The Office'
published: Tuesday | June 5, 2007
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Luke warm in their last couple of friendlies, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will be looking to pick up the pace when they are tested by South American giants Chile in a 7:00 p.m. encounter tonight at 'The Office', the National Stadium.
"Things have been going really well with our preparation for this fixture, both from a tactical and physical standpoint," the team's assistant coach, Wendell Downswell, told The Gleaner yesterday.
"This could be our sternest test so far, but the team is upbeat and we are looking for a quality performance come tomorrow," he added.
Well anything short of that and the Jamaicans will certainly find themselves in trouble against seven-time World Cup qualifiers Chile, who are currently ranked 43rd in the world, 27 places above the Jamaicans.
The Chileans are also expected to field a fairly strong team, which should include the dangerous Matias Fernandez of Spain's La Liga side Villareal and Real Sociedad's Claudio Mu-oz.
The Chileans have been inconsistent in their last couple of interntional games after securing a 0-0 draw with Argentina back in April, but went down 4-0 to Brazil the previous month and more recently 2-0 to Costa Rica earlier this month. They are currently coached by formerUrguyan player, Nelson Acosta.

The good news for the Reggae Boyz, however, is that they will be fielding their strongest team in recent times.

In contrast to the last two friendlies - a 2-0 loss to Sweden back in March, which featured a squad with no foreign-based players and a tame 1-1 draw in what was supposed to be a grudge macth with Panama at the National Stadium later that month which saw just two overseas players suit up - five are included in the squad for tonight's encounter.

Spearheaded by captain Ricardo Gardner of Bolton Wanderers, ace striker Luton Shelton of Sheffield United, Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller and Damion Stewart of the Queens Park Rangers, the overseas contingent was also boosted by Sean Fraser who joined the team yesterday.

Nice mix
Downswell explained that the team has a nice mix of experience and one that gives the local players an oppourtunity to showcase their talent.
"We know they are a strong team but I think we have enough experience to give a good account of ourselves and this is also a good chance for the local players to contninue cementing their spots for the World Cup qualification campaign.
"So far the players have been fitting together well and I am inviting the public to come out and give their support," he added.
However, if one eye is on the Boyz, many members of a result-driven public will certainly have the other on still fairly new technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic, as they expect good results sooner than later.
Milutinovic has been criticised in recent times for not only tame results, but mainly his selections for the senior squad and also what was perceived to be a lack of involvement in the youth World Cup qualifiers.
Jamaica Gleaner