Speid names first squad

With no FIFA window between now and March, Reggae Boyz interim coach Rudolph Speid will get a rare opportunity to assemble and assess a squad of players in match condition, when they take on Grenada in an international friendly at the Kirani James Stadium on January 18.

In his first public presentation since being named interim coach of the Reggae Boyz, Speid, who also named his technical team, called a squad of 24 to begin preparation for Grenada and announced a provisional World Cup play-off squad of 52 players, which will be increased to 60 before the list is due to be submitted to FIFA by January 15.

The 24-man, local-based squad went into camp on Monday and will go until Friday. However, Speid pointed out that the squad is not finalised, as they have sent invitations to players in the MLS, who have yet to respond, and that changes are possible before the final squad leaves for Grenada next week.

“This 24-man squad is not the final squad. We have sent invitation to the MLS players and if they accept, they will be coming in for next week’s training camp before we fly off on the 16th.

“The 24-man squad is subject to changes for the January 18 assignment. The final squad for Grenada will be announced at a later date,” he commented.

Despite the squad being largely local, Speid insists they are not going to Grenada for developmental purposes, and that it is an opportunity for players who want to make claims for a place in the March squad.

“This (match against Grenada) is a development match that we have used for the last three years. We looked at it as an important opportunity for local-based players to get international exposure.

“But this is an opportunity for other players to come forward and say, ‘I want to be in the March squad also, so let me put my best foot forward.’

“So normally this is a developmental match but it gives us an opportunity to look at players we would want to play in March,” he said.

Only three players named in the 24-man training squad are a part of the provisional 52-man squad, Warner Brown, Nickyle Ellis, and goalkeeper Tafari Chambers.

Speid noted that they wanted as many members of the 52-man squad participating in Grenada as possible. According to Speid, the JFF is working to get more friendlies in order to give others a chance before a final squad is named.

“We are happy to get as much person as we can from the 52-man squad to play in the Grenada match.

“We are working on other opportunities to get more friendlies, which we would like to have one in February.

“When this (February game) or other matches are confirmed, we will make an announcement. We will commence a training camp today and it will go until Friday. We will also have another camp next week, prior to the departure to Grenada,” he disclosed.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Grenada provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Tafari Chambers; Kemar Foster; Daniel Russell.

Defenders: Christopher Ainsworth ; Javain Brown; Damion Lowe ; Ronaldo Webster; Stephen Young; Kyle Ming; Fitzroy Cummings; Robinho Gordon.

Midfielders: Adrian Reid ; Shamar Watson; Dwayne Atkinson; Andre Lewis; Tyreek Magee; Jahshuan Anglin; Jaheem Thomas; Nickyle Ellis

Forwards: Romario Williams; Trayvone Reid; Daniel Green; Jourdain Fletcher and Warner Brown.

WC play-offs provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Andre Blake; Jahmali Waite; Jayden Hibbert; Tafari Chambers; Amal Knight; Corey Addai.

Defenders: Damion Lowe; Dexter Lembisika; Ethan Pinnock; Greg Leigh; Joel Lattibeaudiere; Max Aarons; Mason Holgate; Richard King; Neco Henry; Ronaldo Webster; Tyrese Gray; Kyle Duncan; Ian Fray; Jeovanni Laing

Midfielders: Bobby Reid; Daniel Johnson; Dwayne Atkinson; Issac Hayden; Kasey Palmer; Kevon Lambert; Karoy Anderson; Ravel Morrison; Nickyle Ellis; Tyrese Hall; Tyreek Magee

Forwards: Bailey Cadamarteri; Cameron Archer; Corey Burke; Demarai Gray; Dujuan Richards; Ephron Mason-Clarke; Kaheim Dixon; Keinan Davis; Leon Bailey; Nichalia Fuller; Norman Campbell; Warner Brown; Tyrese Campbell; Trivante Stewart; Shamar Nicholson; Rumarn Burrell; Renaldo Cephas.