Boyz goal keepeer, Andre Blake. CONCACAF
Caribbean Life, MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2021 45
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By Nelson A. King
For the Jamaican National Team,
popularly known as the Reggae Boyz,
the CONCACAF Gold Cup is more than
just playing in a tournament.
“It is a chance for a group of players
who view each other as family to spend
a long time together doing something
that they love,” said CONCACAF on
Wednesday.
“Perhaps that best explains why
Jamaica has made history recently
in the tournament by becoming the
first Caribbean nation to reach a Gold
Cup Final in 2015, and then making
a return trip in 2017, followed by a
semifinal finish in 2019, becoming the
only Caribbean team to have played in
three straight Gold Cup semifinals,” it
added.
CONCACAF said goal keeper (GK)
Andre Blake has been a key part of
those Jamaica teams, particular as the
starter in the 2017 and 2019 tournaments,
stating that it means a lot to
the 30-year-old knowing that he has
a firm place in Jamaican football (soccer)
history.
“That’s big for me,” Blake told CONReggae
Continued on Page 46
West Indies’ Andre Russell during
net pratice at The Ageas Bowl,
Southampton, Britain on June 13,
2019 Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs,
File
Russell set
to return
By Azad Ali
Explosive allrounder Andre Russell is set
to return to the West Indies team for the
first time in 14 months, after being named
in an 18-man provisional Twenty 20 squad
for the upcoming series South Africa, Australia
and Pakistan in the Caribbean starting
next month.
The 33-year-old hard-hitting batsman
has been plagued by injury in recent years,
Continued on Page 46
Ambrose: WI glory
days are over
By Azad Ali
Legendary fast bowler, Sir Curtly
Ambrose has dismissed any chance of
West Indies rediscovering the stellar
form, which typified its halcyon era of
the late 70s and 80s.
The Antiguan who took 405 wickets
from 98 Tests, said while there were
qualified players among the current
generation, there is nothing to compare
to the galaxy of world class stars which
had spearheaded the Caribbean side’s
unparalleled success in the past.
“This is no disrespect to the players
we have now because we have a couple
of guys who have some quality in them
and become great, but what we have to
understand is I don’t think we will ever
have those great exceptional glory days
again,” Sir Curtly told TalkSports on
the Grenada Sports channel.
Continued on Page 46
REGGAE
BOYZ
Jamaica sets standard for Caribbean teams
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