JFF president happy ‘the fans are back’

MORE THAN 25,000 fans gathered at the National Stadium in Kingston on Tuesday night to cheer on the Reggae Boyz in their final round of World Cup Qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago, with the Boyz securing a 2-0 victory.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts says the support and cheers of the ‘12th man’ were vital to their second consecutive victory in Group B and crucial to the actualisation of Jamaica’s dream to return to the World Cup, to be held in Mexico, Canada, and the United States in 2026.

“That’s an indication that the fans are back on board and at this time, [during] the World Cup qualifying, is when we are going to get the best out of our supporters. So I am very happy that we got a positive result. That will certainly inject some more life into the campaign. We are intent on getting to the World Cup,” he said.

“It is significant this evening that the crowd was excellent. I understand that it was officially over 25,000 persons, and I am pretty sure that that number will grow as we get closer to qualifying for the World Cup.”

Though the president thanks the fans for their support, he also congratulates the members of the team.

“I want to use the opportunity to congratulate all parties involved — the technical staff, the players, the staff at the JFF, certainly coach [Steve] McClaren and his recently appointed technical advisor [Rudolph Speid],” he said.

With the stadium capable of holding approximately 35,000 people, the president is hoping for even more fan support to fill the stadium to capacity and create an atmosphere similar to the one that existed when the island qualified for the 1998 World Cup.

Jamaica has two more home games for the qualifiers, as they will host Bermuda on October 14 and Curacao on November 18.

“We want to ensure that that last game is a celebratory event, so we just want to stay focused, win all the games. So I want to encourage the fans to come out in their numbers, support us, be that 12th man and certainly, the process will be a lot easier,“ Ricketts said.

Reggae Boyz ambassador Tanya Lee Perkins joins Ricketts in his appeal to the Jamaicans for their continued and increased support of the Boyz.

“I know that now the belief is even stronger and we will see more Jamaicans coming out to support. We look forward to everyone coming out in October. The Boyz need that 12th man in the stands. That support is massive, everyone coming out in their green and yellow, bringing the flag. It makes a huge difference because it lifts our players. The journey is not just for us as Reggae Boyz, it is not just for us as the JFF, it is for every Jamaican that has a dream of seeing us at another World Cup and it is right around the corner; we can almost touch it,” she said.

Ricketts said he does not want the fan support to stop after the qualifiers, but wants it to continue when the team gets to the World Cup.

“It is in our backyard … so I am pretty certain that a number of Jamaicans will be watching these games; so, again, I want to use this opportunity to encourage Jamaicans. We will be at the World Cup, so make your arrangements, take time off from work, get your funds together, and hopefully we will see you in Mexico, in Canada, and in the US,” said Ricketts.