Twenty-three-year-old defender Damion Lowe, son of former national representative Onandi Lowe, has received his maiden call up to the Jamaican national senior squad for the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup qualifiers against Suriname and Guyana on October 5 and 11, respectively.
Lowe, a former Camperdown High and Hartford Hawk player, is currently on loan with Minnesota FC in the North America Soccer League (NASL). Lowe, who has represented Jamaica at the Under 23 level, also represents an influx of young talent brought in from both local and overseas clubs including Omar Holness and Allan Ottey.
“We are trying to balance the overseas with local talent and what we will also try to do is put in some younger players and some more experienced players,” said team manager Roy Simpson of the 20-man squad that includes 12 players who ply their trade overseas. “Hopefully they can take us past these two games and then we strengthen for the final stage and for the Gold Cup next year.”
Other members of the new-look squad include goalkeeper Ryan Thompson of St. Louis FC, Kemar Lawrence of the New York Red Bulls, Dwayne Ambursely of Montego Bay United, Owayne Gordon of Indy Eleven, Dino Williams of Montego Bay United, Allan Ottey of Montego Bay United, Je-Vaughn Watson of the New England Revolution, Sean Francis of the San Jose Earthquakes, Michael Binns of the Wilmington Hammerheads, Corey Burke of the Bethlehem Steele, Darren Mattocks of the Portland Timbers, Ewan Grandison of Portmore United, Andrew Vanzie of Humble Lion FC, Andrew Holness of Real Salt Lake, Dicoy Williams of Arnett Gardens, Alvas Powell of the Portland Timbers, Ladale Richie of Montego Bay United, Rosario Harriott of Harbour View FC and Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union.
The team will be coached by former Jamaica midfielder and Under 20 coach Theodore Whitmore who will be in charge of the national squad for the two matches in round three of the competition. Arnett Gardens coach Jerome Waite will be his assistant. (Sportsmax)
