Injuries to a number of players on the national U-20 football team may jeopardise the team's chance of qualifying for the CONCACAF youth tournament according to coach Donovan Duckie.

Jamaica leave for Aruba on November 18 to compete in the final round of Caribbean qualifiers for the CONCACAF tournament, but six key players are injured. Jamaica will play two games against the host and Antigua and Barbuda. If they top the group they will advance to the CONCACAF tournament, which is a qualifier for the 2009 U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Nursing troublesome injuries

"Right now a number of our players are nursing troublesome injuries," a JFF release quoted Duckie as saying. "Midfielder John-Ross Doyley of Glenmuir and Portmore (knee), midfielder Marvin Boothe of Glenmuir and Portmore (ankle), Reno midfielder Davion Thorpe (groin), forward Alanzo Adlam of Sporting Central (groin), forward Andre Clennon of Waterhouse (groin) and defender Levaughn Williams of Lennon and Sporting Central (knee) are injured."

He added: "We have played five international matches and we have not conceded a goal. Our chances of qualifying for the U-20 World Cup in Egypt are real but recently I have not been able to play a practice match with a possible starting 11."

Duckie pointed out that most of the other team members are carrying minor injuries and that they are unable to recuperate because they play in many different competitions.

Time spent with them at the physio

"When the players come to camp we have to be doing rehabilitative work," he remarked. "A lot of time is spent with them at the physio, the doctor and so forth. We are wrapping them in cotton wool but as soon as they leave camp they get right back into action. This cannot be good right now as it could be too late to make any changes.

"Unless these players are pulled immediately from active school and club competitions leading into the final preparation stretch for the qualifying tournament in 18 days time, we may be in serious trouble with our qualification. The national team must be the priority. We must put country first," the coach added.