Andre Coley

Standout Jamaican youth coach Andre Coley is looking forward to the challenges after being named coach of the West Indies Under-19 team to next year's ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand.

Coley, who led the Jamaican Under-19 team to the regional double a few months ago, recently served as interim coach for the regional team during the WICB President's Cup in Guyana and is proud to be given the chance to lead the team.

Said Coley, "It's an honour obviously, to coach a team of the best youngsters in the region, to represent the region, and it's a challenge that I'm really looking forward to. With the crop of players that we have I believe we have a very good chance."

Coley, 35, a former West Indies Under-19 and Jamaican senior team player himself, is pleased with the talent at his disposal and spoke of his experience with the players during the recent President's Cup.

"If you look back to the regional Under-19 tournament, we saw some very good performances and recently when we went down to Guyana to compete in the one-day tournament, we saw some good performances as well. I think the players are very keen and everybody is looking forward to the tournament," Coley stated.

"It was an enjoyable 10 days, we had some rain in Guyana but I got the chance to really sit down with them and talk and I thought we got on well and we will continue to grow, as we continue to prepare for the World Cup," Coley pointed out.

experience

"Overall I'm really looking forward to the experience, I will be interacting with coaches from all over the world and I'm looking forward to learning. Everyday you learn something new and I'm looking forward to learning from the people who have already been there," he closed.

The Jamaicans named on the team are Andre Creary, John Campbell, Akeem Dewar, Jermaine Blackwood, Nicholson Gordon and Patrick Harty. Wicket-keeper Patrick Harris was named but will not be able to participate due to a recent operation to his left knee.

The team is completed by four Barbadians, three Trinidadians, three Leeward Islanders, two Guyanese and one Windward Islander.