Sport

Daley, Hue to rule midfield

file photos - Jermaine Hue (above) and Omar Daley

By PAUL-ANDRE WALKER, Staff Reporter

WITH THE RETURN of a number of overseas-based footballers, the battle for spots in Jamaica's starting eleven for the home leg of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Digicel Caribbean Cup semi-final game against French Guiana tomorrow at the National Stadium has intensified.

Andy Williams, the captain since the start of the Digicel Cup, is slated to return to the team today, but even before his arrival, the battle for spots in the three-man midfield has been heating up.

The midfield line-up for the first few rounds of games saw Khari Stephenson, Jermaine Hue and Andy Williams taking the responsibility of holding the team together. Omar Daley's return has widened the selection net as national coach Wendell Downswell was impressed with the invitee's play during practice yesterday.

"Daley is energetic and tactically disciplined," he said.

"His place within this team will be a significant feature of Saturday's game," he went on to say.

Playmaker

Daley is known to be a playmaker, as is the case with Jermaine Hue, who has been orchestrating Jamaica's attacks in recent matches. Downswell is looking to have both players in his line-up.

"Daley works hard defensively and is a more explosive player than Hue who is mainly an offensive player. So I think it will auger well for the team if both of them are on the field for Jamaica," Downswell said.

Downswell spoke well of Stephenson's progression in his role at defensive midfield as well, saying that:

"Stephenson has been making the transition to the senior game fairly well and he will play an important role for Jamaica as well."

That is not the only place that the competition has got stiff, as the two starting strikers for Jamaica also have a fight on to keep their starts. Damani Ralph, who only scored one goal in the World Cup qualifiers is back to claim a spot from the attacking duo.

In a training session that resembled a practice game against the Under-20s on Tuesday, Ralph got onto the scoresheet in a 3-0 victory for the senior team with a thumping goal that was preceded by a beautiful turn inside the box, to stake his claim for a space.

"Ralph also brings energy to the team and a high work rate. We'll have to wait to see how that pans out. Maybe we'll start him and maybe we'll have him coming off the bench as a tactical manoeuvre," said Downswell.

As far as the tactics to be employed against the French Guiana team, Downswell is still weighing his options.

"The players have been responding well to the tactical approach which will be fine-tuned when Andy arrives," said Downswell.

The game is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start and so the final squad for the game will be cut this evening with the announcement of the starting line-up to be delayed for as long as possible.