KINGSTON, JAMAICA – The Honduras men’s national team is ready to play the role of spoiler when it opens its Concacaf Gold Cup campaign against hosts Jamaica at the Independence Park Stadium on Monday.
“We know that we are going to face a great rival, it is a great tournament, it is the tournament of the Concacaf region so therefore we are responsible for leaving a good presentation,” said forward Roger Rojas in a pre-match press conference on Sunday.
Rojas is one of five forwards called up to Manager Fabian Coito’s 23-man squad. The 29-year-old returns to the tournament for his second appearance after forming part of the nation’s semifinal run at the 2013 edition.
The Tegucigalpa native boasts over a decade in his professional career and has helped domestic club Olimpia to seven league titles and the conquest of the inaugural Concacaf League.
Now plying his trade at Costa Rican side Alajuelense, Rojas will be ready when called upon and wants to help Honduras get out of its current scoring drought.
“We, strikers, live on goals and they will always be demanded of us so that pressure will always be there,” said Rojas. “One as a forward has to work, prepare, ready when the opportunity is given and try to take advantage of it.”
Honduras arrived on the island on Saturday and was the last team to train at the site of their opening match. It will make its 14th Gold Cup appearance to tie Canada and Costa Rica for third place and following only Mexico and the United States.
Having reached the quarterfinals in six of the last seven editions, and advancing to the semifinals on four of those occasions, Honduras will not be contempt by participating only in the group stage.
“We are very much looking forward to the start of the game and, as [Manager Fabian Coito] has stated, recover that identity that our country needs,” added Rojas.
