MIAMI, Florida.- In 2019, the Jamaican National Team hit a historic level in the Gold Cup, reaching the semifinals for the third straight time, and although the team fell short of what they wanted to accomplish that year, they made waves in the soccer world.
Before 2015 when they reached the first of two consecutive finals, Jamaica had only reached the quarterfinal level, so it’s no surprise that the team in 2021 is aiming to once and for all win the championship. The Caribbean nation has recently become a topic of conversation, with some throwing in their names even as favorites since their performance in the last Gold Cup.
All aspects of a team are vital to get points, and the offense will be key to Jamaica if the team wants to advance, which includes the midfield duo of Devon “Speedy” Williams and Lamar Walker, who each play for USL Championship side Miami FC.
Williams was part of the squad that helped Jamaica get to the semifinals in the 2019 Gold Cup. The 29-year-old center midfielder currently has one goal with the national team, coming against Aruba in the 2019-20 Concacaf Nationals League during a game as locals. Williams has 13 appearances with Jamaica.
22-year-old midfielder Walker debuted in Jamaica’s Under-22 in the 2019 Pan-American Games in Peru. That same year Walker debuted in the nation's senior team in the CNL Nations League and also scored his first international goal against Aruba, in a 6-0 victory in the rival’s territory. Walker currently has six caps with the Jamaican team.
The duo will be interesting to watch because they can play a key part in Jamaica getting the golden ticket to their third Final and the chance to make history as the first Caribbean champion of the Gold Cup.
The stage is set for Jamaica’s midfield duo to showcase their skills at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium, which will host its first set of Gold Cup matches on Monday, July 12, with Jamaica taking on Suriname.
