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Hallgrimsson defends Boyz selections
June 27, 2023
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has justified his selections, with interest being generated about the omission of Jamaica Premier League players from the Gold Cup squad.
According to Hallgrimsson, the coaching staff fielded the best players available for the goal of winning Jamaica's first continental tournament.
Jamaica began Gold Cup play on Saturday with a 1-1 draw with the United States of America (USA), conceding late in a game that Hallgrimsson believed they should win.
The squad comprised players plying their trade overseas, without the likes of JPL Golden Boot winner Collin Anderson and Mount Pleasant's Trivante Stewart.
On Friday, when asked about the reason behind his choices with those absences, Hallgrimsson said that while they have involved the local-based contingent in previous camps, he felt that the players assembled were the best capable of doing the job.
"We have had opportunities against Cameroon and two matches against Trinidad to look at most players there. We have had some guys, such as Demario Phillips, (but) this is what we decided to go on.
"There is only Dujuan Richards (locally based on the team). I know he is not playing in the league, but from Jamaica. We thought this was the best team we could field right now," Hallgrimsson said.
Richards is the only locally-based player for the Boyz at the tournament, making his senior tournament debut. He made his international debut earlier this year. Richards is bound for English Premier League giants Chelsea, who confirmed on Saturday that he would join them next season, after his 18th birthday.
Hallgrimsson is standing by his squad decisions, which included Everton winger Damarai Gray, who registered his first international assist in the USA game. While not ruling out integrating more local-based players in the future, Hallgrimsson said the players selected were the best available.
"For me, really, it doesn't matter where the players come from. Hopefully, we can integrate some more players from the Jamaica Premier League, but at this stage, we selected these guys to represent Jamaica," Hallgrimsson said.
Jamaica will face Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow in their second group game. Trinidad lead the group after their 3-0 win over St Kitts and Nevis on Sunday.
