KINGSTON, Jamaica – President of the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF), Michael Ricketts is overjoyed by the national Under-17 team’s historic achievement of qualifying for the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Jamaica’s Jamone Lyle (centre) dribbles away from Canada’s Eloi Breton (right) and Ulrich Zamble during their Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers.The unbeaten Jamaican starlets ended their CONCACAF Under-17 Qualifiers in style with an impressive 3-1 win over pre-tournament favourites Canada in Costa Rica on Wednesday, to finish top of Group G.
It’s the third time in Jamaica’s history that they’ve qualified for the Under-17 World Cup, with their last appearance coming in 2011.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Ricketts said the team’s performance was a reflection of the JFF’s investment at the youth level.
“We have invested heavily in our youth programmes over the last few years. Our TDS [Talent Development Scheme] programme, our Under-14 boys would have won the CFU Boys Challenge Cup, then last year again at the CONCACAF level the boys won that competition under [Andrew] Peart again. So, it’s [been] a work in progress, and the investment is paying off and we are just absolutely delighted,” Ricketts said.
“I must use this opportunity to congratulate my technical staff, who have worked so hard, tirelessly, to keep things on track and to ensure that we stay focused. I’m just proud of the boys. They have really, really worked hard. I watched the game, I was so nervous sometimes, but they kept their nerve and the result is that we have qualified.”
After missing out on qualification in 2025, the JFF named veteran Wendel Downswell as head coach to add further experience to the technical staff, which featured Vassell Reynolds, Altimont Butler, and Carlton Simmonds.
Rickets was full of praise for Downswell, who led the Under-17 side to the 2011 World Cup, and was also at the helm when the Under-20s qualified for the 2001 edition.
“He would have brought years of experience. He knows how to qualify Under-17 teams, so he was a great addition to a staff that had worked so very well from day one.
“Congratulations are indeed in order, and we are just supremely happy and confident going forward,” Ricketts said.
