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JAM | Jan 13, 2025

Jamaica Under-17s are ready for World Cup qualifiers, says Reynolds

Howard Walker

Howard Walker / Our Today

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Coach Vassell Reynolds giving instructions to two National Under-17 players during a recent friendly game against the JDF. (Photo: Contributed)

Jamaica’s Under-17 assistant coach Vassell Reynolds thought the team’s performances at the Torneo Del Sol tournament in Mexico, gave them added confidence heading into the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in February.

The Young Reggae Boyz were knocked out at the quarterfinal stage losing 1-2 to the Metropolitan Team on Thursday.

“The overall performance we got from the team gave us that extra motivation to have that belief and to continue to work assiduously to get the team to that level that will bring success for us as a team and by extension the country,” Reynolds told Our Today.

Jamaica played four games winning two and losing two. They defeated Bajio 3-2; lost to the Northern Under-19s 0-2 then beat Liga Premier 3-1 before being knocked out by Metropolitan.

“The performance throughout the tournament indicates to us that as a team, we are getting to where we want to be in a few weeks’ time in terms of our overall preparation for the qualifiers but there are areas that definitely need fine-tuning both from an individual and team performance perspective,” Reynolds noted.

On an individual note, young Seymour Reid stood out from an attacking standpoint scoring six of Jamaica’s seven goals throughout the tournament.

Jamaica’s Under-17 player Seymour Reid scored six of Jamaica’s seven goals in four matches. (Photo: JFF)

He scored twice against Bajio, three against Liga Premier and one in the 1-2 defeat to Metropolitan.

“We have recognised that most of the players are capable of performing in the kind of environment that will warrant a high level of mental capacity,” said Reynolds who led Kingston College to the Manning Cup and all-island Olivier Shield titles.

“We also have seen where we need to get a few other players up that level in terms of the technical awareness that will improve our quality as it relates to the depth of our squad.

“The tournament has given us sufficient information as to the areas that require improvement over the next few weeks and going forward,” Reynolds added. “The coaching staff have recognized how valuable this experience was as it presented the kind of high-level practice that will go a long way in our preparation.”

Jamaica have been to two Under-17 FIFA World Cups in 1999 and 2011 and are fancied to reach their third after being paired with El Salvador, St Lucia and the Cayman Islands in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers next month in Guatemala.

The winners of the eight groups qualify directly for the World Cup in Qatar in November 2025.

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