Winnipeg Fury Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 CONCACAF announce 2007 U-17 Final Round Groups. CONCACAF announced today the Under-17 Final Round Groups that will take place in Honduras and Jamaica, respectively in 2007. Group A that will be held at the Tiburcio Carias Andino Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras from 4-8 April and has El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico alongside the hosts. Group B takes place at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica and is composed of four teams joining the home side that includes Canada, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago and USA from 18-26 April. The top two teams from the CONCACAF Final Round Group A along with the best three Group B sides will progress to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea Republic 2007. 2007 CONCACAF UNDER-17 FINAL ROUND Group A (Tiburcio Carias Andino Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras) Honduras - Host Haiti Mexico El Salvador Group B (National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica). Jamaica - Host Trinidad & Tobago Costa Rica USA Canada Source: CONCACAF.COM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesW Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 Let us hope our team can get to the WC and get more experience at a high level. Any idea if the games will be on Trinidad & Tobago or Jamaica radio? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 Wow. Tough draw for our lads. Especially considering Jamaica are hosts of the group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 What the hell happened to the U17 qualifiers we were supposed to host in Saint John? We just gave those up with none in return? Lame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soccerpro Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 Wow toughest u17 Qualifying group Canada has ever been in? Id say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 At least it's going to be a good test for our team but I think both group are pretty equal. Mexico (World Champs) and Honduras at home aren't easy games and Haiti are pretty good at this level. We also played El Salvador and won 2-1 in a close game in the Carribean Cup. I think we have a shot at it, it will be interesting to see what we'll do. I think the USA are the class of our group, the other 4 teams will battle for the 2 remaining spots with T%T being the weakest team base on their Carribean Cup results. It will come down to what kind of prep the kids will get prior to the tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Observer Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 I think its a good group for us. There are 3 spots available for qualification. I would rather be in that situation than having only 2 spots out of 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brodycheese Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 exactly, 3 out of 5 qualify. If we can't out of this group then we don't deserve to be there. I'm certain we'll do well, let's wait and see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brodycheese Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 exactly, 3 out of 5 qualify. If we can't out of this group then we don't deserve to be there. I'm certain we'll do well, let's wait and see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thistle Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 I like the odds of 3 out of 5. Almost 5 months to go before WCQ begin so, as expressed earlier, preparation is of the utmost. Any chance the US squad may want a couple more exhibitions with our boys? Talk about great prep. I'm sure they'll do us proud. A great core of players in place. But...will Hart still be at their helm by that time? For the sake of the MNT, I sure hope so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnipeg Fury Posted December 31, 2006 Author Share Posted December 31, 2006 Jamaica preparing for Canada: U-17s gear for Mexico HUNT... playing Mexico here twice is a plus for us World champs to test Young Boyz ahead of qualifiers National Under-17 coach David Hunt said his team's chances of qualifying for the World Cup in South Korea in August has been boosted by a two-match friendly series here against world champions Mexico on February 14 and 16. The young Reggae Boyz will host Group B of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers from April 21 to 29 involving themselves, Canada, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States. The Jamaicans will be competing for one of three available spots from the group, while Mexico will contest Group A of the tournament, along with El Salvador, Haiti and hosts Honduras from April 4-8, for another two slots. 'These games are extremely important,' Hunt told the Observer yesterday. 'Mexico are the defending Under-17 world champions and to get the opportunity to play them twice here in Jamaica is a plus for us,' he said. 'The qualifiers will be in Jamaica in April, so this gives us a very good opportunity to test ourselves. We played them (Mexico) in Trinidad in August. The game was very close and they defeated us 2-1, so we're really looking forward to playing them again,' he added. The Jamaican youngsters have been short of match practice since the Trinidad tournament last summer, but Hunt said he's not worried as all the players have been kept busy. 'Since we returned from Trinidad we have only trained on one weekend, December 8-10,' he said. 'We should have had more training sessions over the holidays, but the malaria outbreak prevented us. However, we'll commence training on January 3 and we have put some plans in place and are awaiting the JFF's approval for the rest of the training schedule up to April,' he said. 'Although we have not trained from August, most of the core of players have been playing Manning and daCosta Cup. They have not been together, but they have performed well, as most of them reached the quarter-finals or second round for their respective schools, or have been played on champion teams. 'But now we're getting them back together so we can get back the focus... qualifying for the World Cup in South Korea is now the major objective,' he emphasised. The veteran coach is also hoping to secure a number of other games to get the team in the right shape to qualify for their second Under-17 World Cup Finals. 'Two games will not be enough. We have requested that the JFF look tours in about five different countries, so we're looking to play at least 10 to 15 more international games, if it is possible. If not, we'll just have to make do with local opposition,' he said. But despite the challenges ahead, the Meadhaven United and Calabar High School coach believes that with the qualifying tournament being hosted in Jamaica, the Boyz are more than capable of taking one of the three available spots. 'We have to be confident. The last time the qualifiers was held in Jamaica, we qualified in 1999. We have not qualified since, or before, so it's a good starting point to be playing in Jamaica, in familiar surroundings and with home support,' he explained. Hunt thinks highly of the squad he has guided through 16 international games in the past two years. He has a core of players he has worked with and thinks they have proven they can compete with the other teams in the group. Of the teams Jamaica will be up against, the USA have qualified for 11 Under-17 World Cup Finals, while Canada have reached four, but not since 1994. Costa Rica have qualified for six tournaments, including the last three and five of the last six. Trinidad qualified once, in 2001, and Jamaica in 1999. 'So all in all we have a good chance to make it to South Korea. Once we have signed off on those recommendations we have made to the JFF, then I'm certain for the qualifiers we'll be well prepared if they go through,' he said. 'Also, there is a new technical director... and I think his presence and assistance will play a great role in helping us to achieve our objectives.' Copyright© 2000-2001 Jamaica Observer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted December 31, 2006 Share Posted December 31, 2006 The Jamaica Observer needs to update the copyright statement on their website :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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