Gordon Williams, Contributor

TORONTO, Canada:

TWO KEY components in Canada's bid to beat the Reggae Boyz in tonight's crucial World Cup quali-fier here have fond ties to Jamaica.

However, midfielder Julian de Guzman and forward DeWayne De Rosario will be in no mood to show any compassion against their rivals in the CONCACAF semi-final round fixture, which is expected to be played in front of a large Jamaican crowd at the BMO Field.

"I've always felt the Jamaican culture, my mom coming from St Catherine and growing up around a lot of Jamaican culture since I've been in Toronto and I've always enjoyed a lot of it," said the 27-year-old de Guzman, who was born in Scarborough, Ontario.

"But when it comes to playing on the national team, it's a special want because I'll have to block out as much as possible and focus on representing my country," he said.

The midfielder, who plays professionally for Deportivo La Coruna in Spain's top league, said he has always celebrated Jamaica's exploits in world football, including the Boyz' successful run to World Cup 1998 in France.

No mixed loyalities

But there will be no mixed loyalties tonight, he said, and he never harboured any thoughts of representing Jamaica, despite the family ties and his own appre-ciation of the country.

"(Jamaica) has been a motivating factor for me," explained de Guz-man, who has played at least 30 times for Canada. "I watched them go to the World Cup. I supported them. But also to play against them has also been a big dream for me, to represent my country and I'm going to do it to the best ability I can."

He's convinced his mother, Pauline, will do the same.

"I know she is from St Catherine, but she is definitely going to come out and support her son and her country, which is Canada," he said.

De Rosario, an all-star player from the Houston Dynamo in America's Major League Soccer (MLS), shares his teammate's sentiments.

The 30-year-old, who has played close to 50 times for Canada and scored more than a dozen goals for his country, has visited Jamaica "many times," he said, and not just for national duty.

Although De Rosario's parents were born in Guyana, his father, Tony, spent years living in Jamaica and attended St Mary's High School.

He admits being "very close" to the Caribbean and has mastered Jamaican patois. But he has no split loyalties either.

"That's a big part of my roots," explained the player, who was also born in Scarborough and has played three times against Jamaica but failed to score. "It's all business (tonight). There are no mixed emotions. I'm representing Canada."

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.