Sport

Boyz, Guatemala friendly off

Wendell Downswell - FILE

THE FOOTBALL FRIENDLY between Jamaica's local-based Reggae Boyz and Guatemala which was scheduled for Jarrett Park tomorrow is off.

In a release yesterday the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), announced that Guatemala won't be able to make the trip due to problems with their passports.

Passport delay

According to the release, the Guatemalan Football Federation had sent the passports of the players to the British Consulate in Guatemala City to get Trinidadian visas for a scheduled World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on September 3.

The passports were expected to be returned by Wednesday but this has been delayed until late today. National coach Wendell Downswell said his team was disappointed, bearing in mind that the JFF has been looking into the possibility of acquiring an international friendly each month.

"We were looking forward to it, especially the technical staff because it would have given us a marvellous opportunity to look at some of the marginal players - especially given the fact that some of the top players are out," said Downswell.

Thus far, the JFF has only been able to set up the game with Guatemala and a friendly in October against Australia.

However, Downswell is optimistic that his organisation will be able to achieve the goals set for the 'lull period' brought on after failing to qualify for the World Cup.

"The players are quite disappointed but these are factors beyond our control," he said. "We are looking forward to getting games for September, November and December. We are looking in North, Central and South America and there is a strong possibility that we'll get a game from that region. We hope to tie up these games as quickly as possible even though it will be difficult," he said.

Jamaica need to remain active to maintain or improve their world ranking despite not being a part of football's showpiece in Germany next year.