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November 23, 2007
Good start on the Reggae road to South Africa
By: Devon Anderson and Dwight Fraser
The Jamaican Football team "The Reggae Boyz" made a successful return to the National Stadium - "The Office," when they won their two international friendlies against El Salvador and Guatemala under the new Jamaica Football Federation Administration with Captain Horace Burrell at the helm.
In the first game on Sunday November 18 against El Salvador the Theodore Whitmore coached team won 3-nil in an encouraging but not overwhelming performance by the Boyz. This all took place under the watchful eyes of approximately18,000 spectators clad in their gold, green and black our traditional "Yard" colours.
On this occasion the team was captained by Ricardo "Bibby" Gardner who plies his trade in the English Premier League for Bolton Wanderers. The goal scorers were Captain Gardner and Rudolph Austin.
In the second encounter on Wednesday November 21 against Guatemala, the Reggae Boyz kept their composure and eeked out a comprehensive 2-nil victory, under soggy conditions in front of a similar size crowd.
However this time the team was captained by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts as Ricardo Gardner had to return to England due to contractual agreement with his club.
Ricardo "Willy boo" Fuller kicked the goal scoring door wide open when he chipped the ball over the head of an advancing Luis Molina in goal, while Omar Daley's had a surging run down the middle after picking up a loose ball, and struck a ferocious ground shot that beat Molina in the right hand side of his goal .
Jamaica's rookie coach Theodore Whitmore who played for the Reggae Boyz on the journey to France in '98 was elated to have been given the opportunity by administration to be the man in charge of the squad for these two international friendlies. He dedicated the victories to former team mates now deceased Stephen "Shorty" Malcolm and Peter "Jair" Cargill.