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Theodore Whitmore
Jamaica's senior footballers will take on South American team Ecuador in a friendly international match today at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa Stadium, starting at 4 p.m. (Jamaica time).
The Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore-coached squad, which includes nine local-based players, arrived in Quito, Ecuador, on Tuesday ahead of today's much-anticipated clash.
Among the local-based players in the squad is first-time invitee André Vanzie, who represents Portmore United in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old Vanzie, a past student of the Garvey Maceo High School, is a member of the Jamaica Under-23 team which failed to qualify for next year's Olympic Games.
Captain Shavar Thomas was expected to join up with the team on Wednesday while defender Jermaine Taylor, who plies his trade with Major League Soccer team Houston Dynamo, did not make the trip as he is currently in the island getting a work permit.
Eric Vernan, Xavian Virgo, Richard Edwards, Keneil Moodie, Montrose Phinn, Richard McCallum, Adrian Reid, Troy Smith and Dwyane Miller are the other local-based players in the squad.
The overseas-based players are Omar Cummings, Ryan Johnson, Demar Phillips, Damion Williams, Rodolph Austin, Dane Richards and JeVaughn Watson. The Ecuadorians are currently ranked 66th in the world.
The Jamaicans will travel to Fort Lauderdale after the match, where they will oppose another South American country, Colombia, in a friendly international on September 6. The Reggae Boyz, who are ranked 43rd by FIFA, were beaten 1-0 by China in their last friendly encounter last month.
