Jamaica's Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson (centre) shakes off a challenge from Costa Rica's Christian Gamboa, while (from left) Jamaica's Christopher Humphrey, Westley Morgan, Joel (Jobi) McAnuff and Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz look on, during the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying football match at the National Stadium on Tuesday night. Anderson scored in injury time to earn Jamaica a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica. - Ricardo Makyn

Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson is pleased with the faith that the local football public and new head coach, Winifried Schafer, has shown in him, but believes at the end of the day it is all up to him to go out and show his worth.

"I think the whole country believes in Tuffy, but it is not about the country, it is about Tuffy, and I have to go out there and do what it takes to please the country," Anderson shared. "I know my job each day I turn out on the field. My job is just to score goals; I don't have any skill."

The 33-year-old striker was for months the centre of public debate over whether or not he should be included in the country's World Cup qualifying squad - even sparking small scale demonstrations by supporters due to his continuous omission by former coach Theodore Whitmore.

The appointment of Schafer in July, brought about a change in fortunes for the country's local league top goalscorer for the past few seasons, as he was called up for the squad to play against Panama and Costa Rica.

silencing critics

He did not even make the bench against Panama, but when given the chance on Tuesday night, he wasted little time in silencing his critics and giving his supporters something to cheer about.

Anderson, who came on as a 68th-minute substitute, came close with his first attempt in the 86th minute before notching an equaliser for the Boyz in the 90+2 minutes. The goal scored by Anderson was the first the team was scoring from open play in the eight games contested in the CONCACAF Hexagonal round.

"I know this player could change the match especially for our supporters," Schafer said. "The moment he (Anderson) comes in he gives our players a second power. If you notice he made pressure, and that's what I wanted.

"If I played Tuffy from the first minute after 20 minutes I would have had to take him out, he would be finished and can't run, as he is not in season. Tuffy is a player (who) maybe he runs and the ball goes against his knee and it is a goal, he is a lucky man and that's what I want. I am happy about him, that's why I take him in."