Fuller Hits Double..
November 03, 2002


Fuller on target again 

Fresh from a three-match suspension, Jamaican international striker, Ricardo Fuller, netted twice in Preston North End's 3-1 win over local rivals, Burnley, at Deepdale in the English First Division yesterday.

The home side were made to pay for their missed chances when Burnley equalised. Following a quickly-taken free kick, Gareth Taylor found space in the box and headed home past David Lucas on 50 minutes.

Burnley, buoyed on by their equaliser, commanded the next period of play, however the home side regained the lead with a goal against the run of play.

Brown Elated with Boyz Perf.
Jam v. Jap 1-1
October 18, 2002

Wednesday's 1-1 draw in the friendly international between Jamaica and Japan has left technical director designate, Carl Brown, elated.

However, his opposite number, Zico, has a lot to ponder.

While Japan qualified for the last 16 games of the 2002 World Cup Finals, Jamaica had not played any tournaments, nor fielded their strongest team in over a year.

The visitors had only two full training sessions in preparations for the game, whilethe home side had only five players plying their trade overseas.

"In two meetings I had with the team I emphasised one thing, attitude -- either bad attitude or good attitude -- and if we could weigh heavily on the good side then I believed that we would have had the sort of performance from the team that we saw ... and I'm really happy to say that the attitude was great," Brown told the Observer after the game on Wednesday.

According to the former national defender and captain, the sort of attitude displayed by the Reggae Boyz was needed to thwart the onslaught of the Japanese, particularly in the first half.

Striker, Ricardo Fuller, connected on an 80th-minute goal to earn Jamaica a morale- boosting 1-1 draw and a share of the Kirin Challenge Cup in front of a capacity crowd at the National Stadium here.

However, Fuller ensured that the Brazilian legend -- who had already been under fire from the Japanese press before he even guided them in a match -- will have to get positive results in a hurry if he hopes to continue in the job.

Jamaica v. Japan Report 
October 18, 2002

The home side got off to a rollicking start, smothering the Jamaicans' attacks. As the visitors tried to dribble their way out of trouble, the fleet-footed Japanese caught them on the counter.

Barely seven minutes had elapsed when midfielder, Micah Hyde, was caught out and a lightning counter-attack was launched. Captain, Hidetoshi Nakata, gained possession and played in Naohiro Takahara, who served up Ono on the right edge of the penalty area.

The Feyenoord striker made no mistake, side footing his first-time effort out of the reach of goalkeeping captain, Aaron Lawrence.

The speed, mobility and confidence of the homesters won out largely in the first half until Barry Hayles of English Premiership side, Fulham, forced goalkeeper, Seigo Narahashi into two saves in as many minutes.

It was a more balanced contest in the second half, although Toshihiro Hattori smacked the ball against the crossbar immediately upon resumption.

Shortly after, Nakata got a glorious chance to put his team further ahead but he muffed the right foot volley after he was brilliantly played in from the right.

The former Spartak Moscow midfielder's effort, though, left a lot to be desired as he shot well wide of the target.

Jamaica v. Barbados
November 10, 2002

St GEORGE'S, Grenada -The Reggae Boyz breathed a collective sigh of relief here yesterday when they were rescued by a 90th-minute goal from Rushden and Diamonds player, Paul Hall, to end 1-1 against Barbados at the National Stadium here as the Gold Cup qualifiers got underway.

Barbados, who were clearly outclassed by the Jamaicans, gave the Boyz a scare in the 88th-minute when veteran, Gregory Goodrich, powered a low free-kick from 25 yards which took a slight deflection past Aaron Lawrence to send the Barbadian bench wild.

But that celebration was short-lived as Hall was on hand to tap home a well-executed left-side cross from Robert Scarlett in a goal-mouth that was buzzing with a swarm of Bajan players.

If the Boyz had lost the game, it would have been a travesty against a bold effort by them to wear down a side that clearly went into the game, not to win, but to preserve their goal.
said Jamaica's technical director-designate, Carl Brown.

It was Jamaica who threatened first when a surging Ian Goodison fed a right-side cross to Winston Griffiths, who rose elegantly to head goalward from 10 yards, but he gently nudged and lost his bearing as the ball rolled wide of the target.

Omar Daley, who terrorised the midfield throughout with his teasing runs, caught a dozing Horace Stout with a firm right-footer from 20 yards, but the veteran goalie called on experience and held on.

Though it was always going to be a difficult task for the Jamaicans to penetrate the Barbados defence, they were unrelenting in their efforts. The Boyz tried unsuccessfully to breach their defences by going down the flanks and the middle - but they could not find a way through.

Up next... Guadeloupe
November 11, 2002

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada - Technical director-designate, Carl Brown, has made four changes to the starting line-up of the Jamaica team as they face surprising leaders, Guadeloupe, today as the Gold Cup qualifying play-offs move into the second round at the Grenada National Stadium here at 5:00 pm (4:00 pm Jamaica time).

Fabian Taylor will replace Wolde Harris in the striker's role, while Fitzroy Simpson and Jermaine Johnson take over the midfield roles from Winston Griffiths and Omar Daley.
There is also a shake-up in the goalkeeping department as second string, Donovan Ricketts, gets the nod over Aaron Lawrence.

The back five of Ian Goodison, Claude Davis, Tyrone Marshall, Robert Scarlett and Craig Ziadie remain intact. Richard Langley, who was outstanding in Jamaica's 1-1 tie against Barbados on Saturday, regains his spot in the centre of midfield, while goalscorer, Paul Hall, will partner Taylor on the frontline.

Nothing less than a victory today will be good enough for the Reggae Boyz if they hope to be one of two teams that will qualify for the next stage of the tournament scheduled for Trinidad and Tobago next year.
"We are playing the leaders in the group so we have to beat them, it's one of the ways of ensuring that we take a big step in qualifying to get one of two spots here," Brown said following a spirited training session yesterday.
Brown said he will be hoping to capitalise on the French-speaking nation's open and fluent brand of football which was on display in their 5-4 win over hosts, Grenada, on Saturday.

"They play with a flat back four and play an open game . we just hope they play that way tomorrow (today) which would allow us a lot more room to play .," he noted.
Based on training routines that were on display yesterday - plus the inclusion of the wily and attacking-minded Johnson in the starting team - it would appear that the emphasis is on getting goals.
"We have to get some goals . we have been getting one goal and we also have been giving up one in the matches we have played . we need to get at least two goals tomorrow," he stressed.

Brown told reporters here that he intends to put early pressure on Guadeloupe and says the players are confident of victory.

Dates for Nigeria & Belize
November , 2002

On November 20, Jamaica will take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Lagos, and three days later they journey to Belize for another international friendly.

Before that on November 9, 11, and 13, the Reggae Boyz will participate in the Gold Cup qualifying (Cope Caribe) tournament in Grenada, where the top two teams advance to the final round in Trinidad and Tobago next year.

"I concluded arrangements with the Nigerian Federation at 0:200 hour this morning when I received a signed contract from the Nigerian Football Association for a big friendly in Lagos to be played on Wednesday, November 20," Burrell told the Observer last night.

Both teams engaged each other in a friendly international in London last May, with the World Cup bound Nigerians scoring a 1-0 victory.

"For many years both countries have tried to organise a friendly in Lagos, but for one reason or another, plans never materialised," Burrell declared.

The JFF boss noted that his federation "wants the nation to share in this glorious occasion" and so all the necessary arrangements have been put in place to facilitate both TV stations beaming the game live.

After the Copa Caribe tournament in Grenada, the Reggae Boyz return home on November 14. A day later they journey to London, England where they will overnight before arriving in Lagos, Nigeria.

Burrell noted that Jamaica "will be fielding the strongest possible team" as the 20th of November is a FIFA date for international friendlies which makes it possible for clubs to release their players to participate for the countries.

The Nigerian FA confirmed the game earlier this week with AFP and Burrell said that already the excitement is building in Lagos.

Zaidie Joins the Boyz
October 08, 2002

NEW York/New Jersey MetroStar defender, Craig Ziadie has accepted an invitation to join Jamaica's national senior football team which visits Japan for a friendly international next Wednesday.

Craig, 22, son of the late Dennis Ziadie, a former national coach, who died in a motor vehicle accident during the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico, is set to follow in the footsteps of his father and two older brothers, Chris and Nick, who also represented Jamaica at football.

Last night, national coach, Peter Cargill confirmed that Ziadie had accepted the invitation to the national senior squad and that the list of players will be announced in another day or two.

Last year, Craig declined an invitation to join the Reggae Boyz from then technical director, Brazilian Clovis de Oliveira, leaving many to speculate that he was reserving an option to play for the USA. Since then, he has been traded from DC United to his present club in the USA's MSL.

But yesterday his brother, Chris, insisted that that was not the case, but rather that Craig lacked the necessary experience to accept the invitation at that time.

"He just couldn't make it at that time... the first time I advised him that he shouldn't because he was too young, it was his first year in the professional league so I said go and get blooded first for a year," Chris told the Observer.

"... he has now completed his second year, and he did pretty well there at New Jersey, so they have offered him an opportunity here now... in fact they wanted to carry him to England for the India tour but his team (MetroStars) wouldn't release him because they were approaching the playoffs... so now he is available," the elder Ziadie added.

He thought the timing is now right, at least from a family standpoint. "Well it (acceptance of invitation) is a good thing, it would be the father and three of four children who would have represented Jamaica, that would be good for him."

Boyz rally to beat St Lucia 3-1
November 01, 2002

LONDON (CMC) -- Jamaica international, Deon Burton, scored a late winner in a triumphant return to Derby County as they won their English first division match 2-1 over Sheffield United at Pride Park on Wednesday night.

In his first outing for the Rams since a loan spell with Portsmouth, Burton pounced for an 84th-minute goal that secured an important come-from-behind win for the struggling Derby, who were relegated from the premier league last season.

The win, only their third at home this season, lifted mid-table Derby to 21 points and 13th spot in the standings.

Shaun Murphy had sent Sheffield United ahead after 23 minutes, while Izale McLeod levelled for Derby 13 minutes later, and Burton settled the game after his second-half introduction.

The 25 year-old Burton, who had scored a team-leading three goals for Portsmouth in early September when a fractured foot hastened his return to Derby, came into the game as a 74th-minute substitute for striker, Lee Morris.

The 1997 Sportsman-of-the-year grabbed the winner with a quality strike six minutes from the end.

After seeing an initial shot blocked by Robert Kozluk for a corner, Burton then got on the end of a headed pass by Ian Evatt to lash the ball into the back of the net. He had a chance to make it 3-1 in the final minute but narrowly missed a chip shot after spotting the goalkeeper off his line.

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Lowe Strikes again
November 10, 2002

A second-half goal from Jamaica's Onandi Lowe ensured that second-place Rushden & Diamonds kept up the pressure on leaders, Hartlepool, in the English Third Division yesterday.

Lowe (79th minute) and an own goal from Matthew Clarke (83rd minute) handed maximum points to Rushden who registered a late 2-0 win over Darlington at Nene Park.

Rushden now have 33 points, four behind leaders, Hartlepool, which stayed on top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 come-from-behind win over Exeter at St James Park.
Rushden controlled the game for long periods and forged ahead when Lowe connected to a through ball to fire into the roof of the net.

With time running out, Darlington's Andy Collett prepared to clear Matt Clarke's backpass but as he attempted to take a touch, the ball slipped under his foot and into the net to gift the home side a second goal.

But Darlington were not without chances themselves and prior to Collett's blunder, striker Barry Conlon should have done better with a header that he glanced over the bar.

Reggaeboyz Clubs

English Premiership

Derby County FC 
Darryl Powell, Deon Burton
Chelsea
Frank Sinclair
Boldon Wanderers
Ricardo Gardener
Jermaine Johnson
Fulham FC
Barry Hayles

Nationwide 1st Div.
Wimbledon 
 M. Gayle
Bradford City 
J. Lawrence
Preston North End FC
Ricardo Fuller

Nationwide 3rd Div.
Hull City FC
Theodore Whitmore
Ian Goodison
Rushden & Diamonds
Paul Hall
Onandi Lowe

MLS (USA)
N. E. Revs. - A. Williams
Colorado Rapids - C. Dawes

France
Paris St. Germain - (K. Kelley)

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