Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

SIMOES

WITH MANY goals to achieve, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz aim to take apart Costa Rica in a friendly international bearing real trial proportions at 'The Office', tonight.

Two persons who have served the country's football well over contrasting periods in the past - technical director, René Simoes, and striker, Marlon King - are also returning to duty.

The team is seeking its third straight victory at home while Costa Rica, who arrived here on Monday night, drew their last match 0-0 away against Iran on January 30, after losing 1-0 in San Jose against Sweden in mid-January. Since October 13 last year, they have also drawn with El Salvador (2-2), Haiti (1-1) and Panama (1-1).

The level of expectations in the game against the 69th-ranked Central Americans that is slated to kick off at 6:00 p.m. will be high for a Jamaica team hunting victory in front of what is expected to be massive and fervent crowd as it craves to strengthen its recovery process following a fall to 103rd last year in the FIFA rankings.

We have to win

Underlining the significance of victory, Simoes told The Gleaner, "For every reason, it's important. First, in a coach's life it's important. We have to win."

Continuing, the Brazilian stated, "The FIFA ranking is very important ... to build the vibe which is growing here, build the label in our 'Office'."

Jamaica, now ranked 98th in the world following respective 3-0 and 2-0 wins over El Salvador and Guatemala last November, are going all-out to win against what appears to be a stronger opponent based on their tradition and have drawn heavily on their nationals who play pro ball in the United Kingdom, the United States and even Belgium, where former Portmore United midfielder, Jason Morrison, now plays with Royal Whitestar.

But the skilful midfielder, nicknamed 'Dago', is not the player most of his compatriots are going to see.

Scoring hit

Instead, it's King, a scoring hit in the previous World Cup campaign.

Subsequently, he was banned for two years in controversial circumstances when the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was under different leadership. November marked the return of a new administration, headed by Captain Horace Burrell, who presided over affairs when Jamaica made their historic World Cup Finals appearance at France in 1998.

He instantly lifted King's ban and reunited the programme with Simoes, who was also the technical director when Jamaica achieved that feat.

There is an anticipation of like proportions to the role played by Viggo Mortensen (Aragon) in the final phase of the Lord of the Rings trilogy titled Return of the King, for the central striker to reign with goals in the black, green and gold jersey in this, his second coming.

And he's up for the challenge.

"I'm a striker and my job is to score goals," said King. "I'm looking to get in the team first. It's a no-nonsense situation, the boss says if you're not performing you won't be in the team. I'm looking to work hard for this team."

Simoes, around whom swirls much antici-pation as well, did not name his starting 11 until after training last night (past press time), but King was jostling for one of two front-line starting positions up front with the hot Ricardo Fuller and Luton Shelton.

The skilful Fuller has hit a rich vein of form, scoring 13 times for Championship division team Stoke City, second highest in the league overall, while the speedy Shelton netted an important goal to lead Sheffield United past premiership team, Manchester City, 2-1 in the FA Cup two Sundays ago.

There is much quality in the squad to supplement the striker's scoring ambitions with Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnsley), Demar Phillips (Stoke), captain Ricardo Gardner (Bolton Wanderers), Morrison, Omar Daley (Bradford City) and a host of local-based players including Jermaine Hue (Harbour View), Rudolph Austin and Wolry Wolfe (Portmore) playing from midfield.

The defensive challenge is expected to be shored up by long-time goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, and US-based Shavar Thomas and Tyrone Marshall.

"I think the team needs some time to get the chemistry together," Simoes noted of the squad. "It's a good group, but sometimes a beautiful woman doesn't become a good wife. So a well-talented group sometimes doesn't make a good team. Even though it's not like it's supposed to be now, we can win the game."