Gordon hopes to bring quality, experience to Boyz
GERMAN-born Daniel Gordon made it clear that he intends to bring his experience and best qualities in defence for the Reggae Boyz.
Well, more than likely the 28-year-old will get that chance when he debuts in his preferred defensive position against the region’s top team, Mexico, inside the National Stadium tonight.
But he does so in a defensive unit which has never played together before, and is expected to severely tested by a Mexican strike force, which can prove potent if given the chance.
“It will be a pleasure to play for Jamaica and to wear the jersey… it would be a dream to get to Brazil 2014, and we want to make that dream come true,” Gordon told the Jamaica Observer when he joined up for the friendly against Tottenham Hotspur last month-end.
But to get to Brazil, Gordon and his mates will have to beat back the challenge of the Mexcians today, and the Americans when they come calling on ‘The Office’ on Friday, and ensure that they are numbered among the top three of four from this Hexagonal.
The Karlsruher SC man, who was born in Dortmund and played at the youth and senior levels for Borussia, stands at 6ft 4inch and switches comfortably from a midfielder to a defender.
In the lone outing against the English Premiership outfit, he displayed a calm and assured persona in defence, was quick-footed and, most of all, appeared very comfortable on the ball — all attributes which will be called upon today, especially against players of the calibre of Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez and Aldo de Nigris.
In the team’s first meeting at the Azteca, in February, the disciplined approach ensured the Boyz a point, but it was never easy, as captain and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was called on to save his team on the few occasions the Mexicans got the better of Nyron Nosworthy, Adrian Mariappa, Demar Phillips, and Jermaine Tyalor.
Only Mariappa from that line-up will be present tonight, but with the right spirit, high levels of concentration and team unity they might just be able to thwart the Mexicans yet again.
