HOUSTON Dynamo forward, Giles Barnes, believes Jamaica’s CONCACAF Gold Cup experience was a turning point in the nation’s football, despite the defeat to Mexico in Sunday’s final.The Reggae Boyz, bidding for their first-ever confederation crown, went down 3-1 to Mexico in the championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.
However,, it was the first time a Caribbean side had reached the final of the prestigious competition and Barnes said it represented a significant moment.
“We should be proud as a nation with what we have been able to achieve … then again we are going to take heart from it,” said Barnes, who scored crucial goals for Jamaica throughout the tournament.
“But congratulations to Mexico as well as they have done well in the second half, but it was a learning experience.”
Jamaica entered the tournament as massive underdogs but managed to top Group B with seven points, following a gutsy 2-2 draw with Costa Rica in Los Angeles, a 1-0 win over Canada in Houston and a similar verdict against El Salvador in Toronto.
They then edged Haiti 1-0 to reach only their third-ever Gold Cup semi-final before stunning defending champions United States, 2-1, to clinch a spot in the final.
Barnes said Sunday’s defeat had hit the team hard but they were as proud of their achievement as they were about the eventual loss to Mexico.
“There were a lot of tears in the locker room, but they were not only tears of sadness, but tears of pride,” said the 26-year-old.
“We’ve done so much for Jamaica’s football, and to see your brother next to you crying, man that was something … it’s just a lot emotions going on now.”
The other English-speaking Caribbean team, Trinidad and Tobago, topped Group C but then bowed out with a quarter-final loss to Panama.