Hardware makes late call count

A LATE inclusion for the Reggae Boyz against Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago, the former Bridgeport High star opened the scoring in the seventh minute, helping Jamaica to a 2-1 victory at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad on Thursday night.

Hardware was not in the original 18-man team selected by head coach Theodore Whitmore but was called up as replacement for Jamie 'Stone Love' Robinson, who was dropped after not showing up for pre-season training with local Premier League team University of the West Indies.

Late call-up

"I was super-excited. I was at training with Boys' Town and left right away," said Hardware, whose strike was cancelled by a goal from the Soca Warriors' Kevon Villaroel in the 12th minute. Ewan Grandison scored the winner for Jamaica in the 57th.

"I was surprised about the late call-up. I thought everybody was fit and training with their clubs. I got the call and made every effort to be there. I want to make my opportunity count," he added.

"We have a good bunch of guys in the team. Some went to the Gold Cup where we went to the final and lost to USA, 2-1," he said.

"There are a lot of experienced guys here with a few youngsters, it is a good group to me. I was a little bit disappointed about not being included in the Gold Cup team, but I guess I wasn't putting in the work that was needed," he said.

Hardware, 25, played for United Soccer League club St Louis before returning to Boys' Town last January.