Jamaica U17s look forward to U.S. tests

Action from the Caribbean under-17 qualifier between Jamaica (yellow jersey) and Curacao on September 25, 2016, in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: CA-Images)

KINGSTON, Jamaica – With his team qualified to compete in next year’s CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, Jamaica head coach Andrew Edwards views upcoming friendlies against the visiting United States as key to the planning process.

“I am very pleased with the (Jamaica Football) Federation to arrange these matches,” said Edwards. “For our team, it is 180 minutes to get sharper, stronger and more effective as we prepare for the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama.

“The United States are one of the strongest teams in the region and it’s a good opportunity for us to see where we are and what we need to do as we now set our new aim, which is to get to the U-17 FIFA World Cup in India.”

The Reggae Boyz will face the Americans on November 2 and November 6 at the National Stadium East Field and Winchester Park, respectively. Between these two encounters, the U.S. will also play a friendly against the Arnett Gardens U-20 team on November 4 at Jamaica College.

Edwards, who in 2015 became the second Jamaica U-17 head coach to beat the Americans (David Hunt 2007), believes the international outings will test squad depth.

“I still feel finishing is an area we need to work on,” the 41-year-old finished. “We are scoring goals, but we can score more, so we need to be more ruthless with our chances. Also I hope we can be more confident on the ball. Once we can master these two elements, I feel we are heading in the right direction.”

Jamaica qualified for the 2017 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship by finishing third in the Caribbean qualifying tournament last month.