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Reynolds: We’re making strides
December 24, 2024
As the under-17 Reggae Boyz look towards their upcoming invitation to the 2025 Torneo del Sol tournament in Mexico, assistant national coach Vassell Reynolds said the team has been making strides following their most recent camp held in Jamaica.
The U17 Boyz were invited by the Mexican Football Federation and will take part in the competition set to run from January 6 through to January 11, 2025.
Jamaica have been drawn in Group C, where they will take on the Liga Premier Team, Bajio Selection and Norte Selection.
The competition will serve as one of the final preparations for the Concacaf Men's U17 Qualifiers set for February 2025.
Reynolds said he has seen major improvements from the U17 squad following their most recent camp, but said they will need to work on their consistency as they enter the competition.
"I think overall it has been pretty good so far. I think we're making some strides. Clearly we need to work a little bit more on our consistency of play in both phases of the game, in possession and out of possession," he explained.
"The fundamental goal was to improve our consistency in the different phases of the game and get in some good performances."
Heading the coaching staff is Altimont 'Freddie' Butler, who is looking forward to the level of competition his charges will face.
He said it is important for the team to compete in high pressure games to test their quality ahead of the Concacaf qualifiers, which will serve as qualification to the 2025 FIFA Men's U17 World Cup.
"This tournament provides the perfect platform for us to compete against top-level national teams, which is crucial as we approach the final stretch of preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers," Butler said.
"Playing at this level will allow us to assess our players in a high pressure environment and make the necessary adjustments as we fine-tune our squad."
The final squad for the Concacaf qualifiers will be announced after the Torneo del Sol competition.
Jamaica will compete in Group H of the Concacaf Qualifiers alongside Central American opponents El Salvador and Caribbean neighbours St Lucia and the Cayman Islands.
