KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-A three man Jamaica football delegation is to visit the United Kingdom next week on a hunt for players to beef-up this country’s chances of qualifying for the 2014 world cup finals in Brazil.
Led by the president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) captain Horace Burrell, the team also includes head coach Theodore Whitmore and his assistant Alfredo Montesso.
The decision to recruit fresh foreign based players follow public criticism of the coaching staff after the reggae boyz struggled through their CONCACAF round to qualify for the final six-nation play-off next year. “I’m travelling to the United Kingdom next week accompanied by head coach Theodore Whitmore and his assistant Alfredo Montesso with a view to interviewing a few Jamaican players who have indicated an interest in wearing the Jamaican colours,” JFF president Captain Burrell told The Gleaner. “I know there have been a lot of criticisms levelled at the coaching staff. But we all have to remember that the coaching staff has to work with the players available to them”.
Captain Burrell has declined to name the players who will be interviewed but local media have suggested that the in-form striker Marlon King could be on the list.
There has been growing calls in Jamaica for the recall of King who scored a hat trick inside 19 minutes to inspire English Championship team Birmingham to a come-from-behind 3 all draw against Millwall last week.
Other players, omitted from the semi-final stage of world cup qualifying, such as Jobi McAnuff, Jermaine Johnson, Ricardo Fuller and Omar Daley have also been the subject of speculation. “We’ve a group of players, we don’t want to reveal any of these names until we meet with these players, interview them and are satisfied that they demonstrate the level of commitment,” said captain Burell.
“We don’t think it’s a good policy to name the players until we’ve completed the process.” Six teams, including Jamaica, will be challenging for three automatic spots in the 2014 World Cup finals, when the CONCACAF finals are held next year.
A fourth will playoff with the Oceania champion, most likely New Zealand.
