Wonder strike brings Reggae Boyz chance
Fuller goal for Tivoli catches McLaren’s eye ahead of T&T encounter
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:42 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
A THUNDEROUS left-footed strike in the Jamaica Premier League’s west Kingston derby has gifted Tivoli Gardens’ Nickalia Fuller a chance at impressing Reggae Boyz coach Steve McClaren when they play the second game of a friendly series at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex tonight at 8.
Fuller comes in to replace Ranaldo Biggs who is nursing a groin injury, but McClaren admits that the 5-3 victory Arnett Gardens had over Tivoli Gardens last week made the left winger an easy choice.
“Absolutely,” said McClaren when asked if Fuller’s strike in the losing effort had anything to do with his choice.
“I’ve said to all the players, everybody’s got an opportunity,” he said.
With the game at 0-0 and Tivoli in the ascendancy, Fuller dragged a ball past his marker before unleashing a left-footed drive across Arnett custodian Jadavin Waul that left him sprawling but hapless.
Fuller will be joining a squad that won the first match by a lone goal in Montego Bay on Thursday, courtesy of Sue-lae McCalla’s late strike, and coach Steve McClaren maintains that the aim is to give all the players an opportunity.
“On Sunday, we will have to make some changes. We will have to use all the squad. We try not to bombard (them with information). We’ll try keep it simple,” he said.
Although pleased with the team’s solidity and organisation in defence in the first match, McClaren is demanding a little more quality in the final third.
“In terms of pressing, that was good. Brisk defence, getting and squeezing. That was good. So what they try to do they did.
“I would like a little bit more quality on the ball. Quality in the final ball. Quality in one-on-one situations.
“But I am sure that will come because all the players were focused on winning the game.”
He also expects the cobwebs to be gone and is looking for the players to be more expressive.
“I’ll just give them the freedom to express themselves to do that. To do the work, yes. But while they are there, because in one-on-one they (wingers) are strong, quick and direct.
“Maybe because of the occasion (first match) and (just) coming together, they were hesitant to do that. So they weren’t free-flowing and we have to make sure that they relax and free-flow,” he added.
Trinidad coach Dwight Yorke’s agenda is similar to McClaren’s. Yorke wants to see as many players as possible before the major tournaments come around.
“We are here to play two games, one in Montego Bay and one in Kingston. We do not have a lot of turnaround time (after first game).
“We will have to go and review it. We do not have a lot of options but the rotations of subs are always going to disrupt (rhythym of team).
“We need to look at players and see where they are in terms of the levels that we are trying to raise with our national team to compete against these teams,” he said.
“I am happy with how we performed (Thursday). The competitiveness of the players and the attitude. I couldn’t fault them. We have a vision where we are trying to get to and it was a really good stepping stone for us,” he said.
Nevertheless, he, too, will be looking for an improved performance on Sunday.
“We are looking to improve as a team, and that is what we are doing, building from the previous managers.
“Where we were lacking (Thursday) was in that cutting third and, again, it is an opportunity to see what they are capable of doing and what we need to improve and keep building on the team.
“It’s not so much the result but the bigger picture, which is, make sure we can assess all the players, that when we come to select the team we have a very strong team,” he added.