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Whittaker backs young Boyz for U20 World Cup
July 12, 2024
FORMER Reggae Boy Allien Whittaker is backing the national under-20 team to book their spot at next year's FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
"The chances of us coming out of the qualifying group is as good as any of the other teams. However, this could come down to how well preparations went and the mood within the camp. The key component is to not lose the opening game because if you do, then you'll have to play catch up," he stated.
The Reggae Boyz are drawn in Group A alongside Costa Rica, Cuba and the USA. Concacaf rules stipulate that the top two teams from the three groups plus the two best third-place teams will qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition. The four quarter-final winners will punch their tickets to next year's World Cup to be hosted in Chile.
The last time Jamaica featured at the under-20 FIFA World Cup was in 2001 of which Whittaker was the goalkeeper for the then Wendell Downswell-coached team. According to the former shot blocker, with the talent available locally, the Reggae Boyz's World Cup drought should not have exceeded two decades.
"It's being long overdue. Based on what I have seen in schoolboy football and the level of talent that is there, maybe we're doing something very wrong. If you look at Cavalier with their youth system and how they perform in the Jamaica Premier League then you realise that we're doing something wrong with the national teams. We should have at least, during that 23-year gap, gone to one or two youth World Cups," he stated.
Whittaker added that while he's pleased with the level of football at this level, more could be done. He said the hosting of more parish competitions could assist in developing more players to choose from.
"I'm pleased, but not satisfied. We could be far more advanced because during my time a lot of marquee competitions were played. The Jamaica Football Federation's under-17 competition should be played across parishes rather than clubs. We also need to see more football being played in the summer especially at the under-12 and 13 levels," Whittaker suggested.
