Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Technical director Rene Simoes (centre) looks on as Obrian Woodbine (right), Rudolph Austin (left) and assistant coach Luciano Gama take part in a Reggae Boyz practise session at St George's College yesterday. - LeVaughn Flynn

National technical director René Simoes is not worried about past results, as the Reggae Boyz continue their preparation for a journey to the dreaded Estadio Azteca, where they face Mexico in the semi-final round of the World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

"We are not worried about playing at the Azteca Stadium or thinking about past results, because it is a different time now," said Simoes following the national team's training session at the St George's College football field yesterday.

"Just like how we don't think about teams that we have beat already here, every game is different every time is different, so we don't think about that," he added.

Capable of holding 105,000 patrons, the Azteca, the fifth-largest stadium in the world, can be an intimidating place for any opponent taking on the El Tri. In fact, since the erection of the stadium in 1966 on lava ground of extinguished volcano, Xitle, the Mexicans have lost just one World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica, going down 2-1 to 'the Ticos' in June 2001.

The stadium, which sits at an altitude of 2,200 metres above sea level, has certainly not been a happy hunting ground for Jamaica's Reggae Boyz. In their last three matches at the venue, Jamaica have conceded an astounding 15 goals and are yet to score. On those three occasions the largest margin of defeat was a 6-0 loss in April of 1997, where the Boyz looked all at sea.

Despite having almost an entirely new generation of players, many of whom will be playing at the Azteca for the first time, the Brazilian is not worried about the players being swallowed up by the occasion.

"The altitude of the Azteca is not a ghost anymore; there is no need to be afraid of it. This is a very good group and we will be prepared," Simoes said.

"It does not matter where some of these players are. Everybody was worried about some the athletes going to the Olympics, but they delivered," he added.

The team was forced to change its training plans after the fixture, originally scheduled for the National Stadium, had to be changed due to the state of the pitch at the National Stadium following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.

Hampered by a groin strain, captain Ricardo Gardner did not take part in the training session yesterday, but is expected to be ready as a starter for Saturday's game. Veteran midfielder Andrew Williams was also yet to join the squad, but was expected to join the team late last night ahead of today's training session. However, due to the fact that he has had very little preparation with the team, it is doubtful that he will be a starter against Mexico.

The team will leave the island tomorrow for Mexico City and will not return to Jamaica until after the following World Cup qualifier against Honduras, which will take place on September 10. Jamaica are now scheduled to host Mexico at the National Stadium on October 11.