AUDLEY BOYD, Assistant Sports Editor

HAWTHORNE, California:

The Reggae Boyz are aiming at a strong start to the CONCACAF Gold Cup to set up their goals of making an unprecedented leap in the regional tournament.

"For any tournament, your first game sets you up for the group stage and the rest of the tournament.

So, especially coming out of the Copa with a good momentum, you want to transcend this into our Gold Cup tournament," said Miguel Coley, assistant coach of the Jamaica men's senior national football team, as he related to the importance of a good start, upon the arrival here of the coaching, administrative staff and four remaining squad members from Jamaica yesterday evening.

Relating to the psychological effect of a positive first result on the players, Coley noted that it makes them "more relaxed".

"So you will find that they'll express themselves more and you'll find that we'll get more goalscoring opportunities - and there's a good vibe in the team, which translates into a good vibe on the pitch."

The Jamaicans are participating in Group B, which also comprises Costa Rica - one of the big surprises at last year's World Cup Finals in Brazil - along with Canada and El Salvador.

"We've a good chance," Coley noted of Jamaica advancing past the group stage. "I think we have a strong team, a competitive team."

Jamaica recently participated in the Copa America. Ironically, they also played out of Group B, where they suffered 1-0 defeats to beaten World Cup finalists Argentina, the world's number three team, world number eight Uruguay, which had won the previous Copa America; and Paraguay, which lost to Uruguay in the previous final.

The Gold Cup is a step down from Copa. Coley, however, said none of the Gold Cup matches will be easy.

"They are tough teams; so they're going to be coming for Jamaica. But it's a tough zone."

He continued: "Costa Rica is really the focus now; it's our first game, so we're going to exert our energies there and try to get a good start."