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‘VERY BIG THREE POINTS’ - Reggae Boyz captain ‘proud’ of team’s WCQ win
October 14, 2021
Reggae Boyz captain, goalkeeper Andre Blake, expressed being proud of his team following their historic 2-0 win over Honduras in their Concacaf World Cup qualifying football match at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, last night.
Kemar Wolfe (38th minute) and Oniel Fisher (79th) scored, both on the first occasion for their country.
Reacting to his team's first World Cup Qualifying win in that country, Blake said "I'm very proud of the Boyz tonight".
"A very big three points," Blake continued, as Jamaica moved off the bottom of the standings to now have five points, putting themselves back in the race for a spot at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Jamaica were under pressure to secure the win against an equally desperate Honduran team, which now sit bottom of the Hexagonal play-offs with three points, all from draws.
The top three teams will advance automatically to the World Cup Finals, while fourth will get another shot, in an inter-continental play-off. As they revived their chances to now sit sixth, level with El Salvador on five points and one behind Costa Rica (six), and three off fourth-place Panama (eight), Blake heaped more praise on their achievement.
"I'm very proud of the Boyz, they did a great job and now we just have to keep building on this momentum and move forward," he said.
"We have a group where we're not just here to be here, we want to play, we want to do well for our country, for our family and our friends and for ourselves. And we have ambition," Blake continued.
"It was a scrappy game, but we matched their intensity and then at moments our football took over, where we were able to get some passing and get some possession on the ball, so overall it was a good night."
Mexico beat El Salvador 2-0 and lead with 14 points, three more than the United States, which defeated Costa Rica 2-1. Canada thumped Panama 4-1 to move third on 10 points.
Jamaica have now kept two consecutive clean sheets, following Sunday's 0-0 draw with Canada and Blake said they are gathering steam at the right time.
"We're a group that the more time we get together the better we tend to play. So we're starting to build some confidence and momentum at the right time, at the right moment. So we just have to keep the group together, now and keep building and keep pushing. Stay hungry and, hopefully, we can go on a run from here and continue to get some points."
The team next plays against El Salvador in San Salvador on November 12, to close out the first half of its 14-match fixture.
Roofe, who was scoring his first Jamaica goal in his fourth appearance, said: "It's a special moment for all of us and for myself, getting my first goal for the country.
" I want to dedicate this one to my dad. He's the reason I'm playing for Jamaica and it's massive for the team to get the three points," continued the British-born player, who represents Scottish Premiership champions Rangers.
"I think it all stems from game against Canada. We didn't get the three points, but we got the draw. But we came out of that game with solidarity, with belief and respect as well and we built on that for tonight's game and we managed to get the three points," said Roofe.
Referring to his goal, he said: "I'm proud, especially as a striker, you're expected to score, people expect you to score or else the pressure is on you. Hopefully, it's the first of many."
