ROAD TO RECOVERY

WITH the Reggae Boyz set to return to action next week, Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts is calling on fans to rally behind the team again but knows it will be extremely difficult after they missed out on this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Jamaica will open their Concacaf Nations League A group stage campaign at the National Stadium against Guatemala next Friday, and Honduras on September 28. It will be the first time the national senior men’s team will play on home soil since that dreaded goalless draw against Curacao last November which saw them miss automatic qualification for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada in the summer. They would miss out on qualification altogether in March when they lost to DR Congo in the Inter-Confederation Play-offs in Mexico. Although the team and the JFF have faced criticism for nearly a year, those criticisms were heightened over the past few weeks with promotion of the upcoming Nation League games on social media.

A despondent fan reacts after Jamaica misses out on automatic FIFA World Cup qualification.Garfield Robinson

On various platforms, including Instagram and X, local fans shared their displeasure on the failed qualifying campaign and have been adamant that they will not attend the upcoming games. Many reflected on last year’s Curaçao game, describing the experience as “traumatic”, particularly because it came just weeks after Hurricane Melissa ravaged the island. Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer he understands the fans’ frustration and says the JFF will do its best to win them back. “I probably would be numbered amongst that group [who are] still angry, still upset,” he said. “We, of course, are on a drive to re-market the sport. It’s going to be tough. You’re never, ever going to get some people to come back. Some will be forgiving, some will be looking forward to the programmes ahead. But, we’re on a new marketing drive. We will be naming a brand new marketing committee so we just are intent on getting our loyal patrons back on board so they can come out and enjoy the sport.”

Jamaica’s Shamar Nicholson (right) tries to evade Curacao’s Roshon van Eijma (left) while his teammates Sontje Hanson (second left) and Shurandy Sambo (second right) look on during their FIFA World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Ricketts says the JFF is remaining positive despite missing out on $2 billion in potential earnings had the the Reggae Boyz qualified for the World Cup. “We have struggled this year from a fiscal standpoint because we invested heavily in so many World Cup-qualifying tournaments — senior men, senior women, under-20 boys, under-20 girls, under-17 boys, under-17 girls,” he said. “So we would have invested heavily, and of course we fell short. “And the very important senior men’s team would have given us a real shot in the arm if we had qualified but we want to stay strong and we want to do what we think is right.” As reported by the Observer in July, Rudolph Speid will remain interim head coach for the entire Nations League A group stage and potential quarter-final campaign, which runs until November.

RICKETTS...we, of course, are on a drive to re-market the sport (Photo: Observer file)

Cavalier FC boss Speid, who was first appointed last November following Steve McClaren’s resignation, will name his squad for the Guatemala and Honduras matches on Friday. Ricketts says he’s looking forward to a great showing from the Reggae Boyz. “I have seen the [squad] list. I think we have a bunch of very good players — some new players coming in to blend with some of the older ones — and I think we’re going to represent ourselves well,” he said. “It’s going to be a month of real high-class football, and we just want to sensitise the Jamaicans and, of course, ask them to just come out and support the sport.”