Page by: Andrew Cho. Apr 2016
“Reggae Boyz”
Current FIFA Rank: 54
Copa America Record: First appearance in Chile 2015 as CONCACAF guest nation
Manager: Winfried Schafer (Germany)
Jamaica FIFA ranking since 1993. Graph by FIFA
History
Soccer in Jamaica sharply rose in popularity around the mid-1990’s when the “Reggae Boyz” rose from 96 to 32 in between 1994 and 1996. This was such a surprise that leading up to the ’98 France World Cup, BBC had a segment on Jamaica, dubbing the Reggae Boyz “the surprise package in France” (BBC News, 1998). This was Jamaica’s first World Cup tournament appearance.
Some records indicate that soccer was introduced in Jamaica near the end of the 19th century. In 1925, Jamaica had its first international match against neighbors Haiti. Between then and the 60’s (when Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom), Jamaica continued to play its neighbors (thereggaeboyz, 1998).
In the Caribbean Cup, a tournament between members of the Caribbean Football Union, Jamaica is one of the most successful teams, holding six titles in 17 tournaments in history. The Reggae Boyz are actually the most recent winners of the Caribbean Cup, which was held in 2014 in Jamaica (Wiki, 2016).
The nation has had much recent success as well. Its title in the 2014 Caribbean Cup secured them a place for the Copa America Centenario, and in 2015, Jamaica reached the finals of the Gold Cup, after beating USA in Baltimore, Maryland in the semi-finals (Jamaica Football Federation, 2015).
Player to Watch
Wes Morgan (32)
Photo by Wikipedia. Labeled for reuse.
- Club: Leicester City (captain)
- National Caps: 25
Alongside Jamie Vardy, Wes Morgan is one of two players for Leicester City that has started every single game this Premier League season. In having a phenomenal season, Morgan was chosen into the “Premier League Team of the Year” by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). He is one of two centerbacks honored, the other being Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham. Having developed as a premier defender so recently, Morgan does not have as much experience with the Jamaican men’s national team. He was called up for the first time in 2013 and has played in just 25 international matches compared to the 180 games he has played with Leicester City in the past four years. However, if this Premier League season is any indication, soccer fans can all expect a strong performance and utmost intensity from the Jamaican defender. Finishing off a fairy tale season with his club team, he would no doubt hope to achieve the same with his country. To read more about Morgan, please visit this Soccer Politics page, written by Timothy Nyangacha.
National Narrative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmK8s1JZRx0
The following narrative is taken greatly from the KICK documentary above that discusses the soccer culture in 2016 Jamaica. The documentary features the national team manager, Winfried Schafer, and several of the players, including Wes Morgan and Darren Mattocks.
The Jamaican Narrative 2016
Among the young generation, soccer is sweeping the nation. Leaders and community leaders in Kingston, Jamaica comment in the video about soccer’s positive influence in the city youth, as the sport curtails trouble and bad behavior. Children and young adults saw the impact of soccer in big scale first in the 1998 World Cup, Jamaica’s first World Cup appearance. Livingston Scott, a journalist, recalls that year as forming not only enthusiasm in the nation, but unity. That year was an unprecedented year of record low murders and crimes. Since then, soccer has had a different meaning for Jamaicans. It was a national pride, newly found but as intense as that found in Brazil.
Wes Morgan quotes in the documentary that Jamaica was able to show the world much more than anyone expected, especially last year at the Gold Cup beating the US in its own soil in Baltimore. Darren Mattocks, another world-class Jamaican player, comments on the new respect Jamaica’s team and the nation as a whole deserves for their success.
The Copa America Centenario 2016 represents true national pride and unity in Jamaica. Young kids and adults alike can wave their flags in pride and find joy in supporting a team that grew out of a small nation with passion and unbounded work ethic. They are the Reggae Boyz.
Works Cited:
“Caribbean Cup.” Wikipedia. 28 Jan. 2016. Web 25 Apr. 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Cup
“History of Jamaica’s Football.” thereggaeboyz. Paul Anthony Worldwide, 1998. Web 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.thereggaeboyz.com/history.htm
“Hoping the Reggae Boyz will create further History.” Jamaica Football Federation. 26 Jul. 2015, Web. 25 Apr. 2016. http://www.jamaicafootballfederation.com/v1/?p=12443
“Jamaica-background” BBC News. 3 May 1998. Web 23 Apr 2016. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world_cup_98/teams/jamaica/features/82457.stm
KICK. “Reggae Boyz on the Rise| Soccer Culture in Jamaica.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 15 Apr 2016. Web. 23 Apr 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmK8s1JZRx0
How to Cite this Page:
“Jamaica” Written by Andrew Cho (23 April 2016), Copa America Centenario 2016, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/copa-america-centenario-2016-guide/copa-america-centenario-2016-team-guide/jamaica-group-c/ (accessed on (date))