Parishes of Jersey FC manager James Scott says both he and his assistant, former Muratti captain Stuart André, plan to increase their presence at local league and Jersey Bulls matches after the independent club qualified for the global tournament in Skopje.
A vast number of Bulls’ top players and the majority of Jersey’s most recent Muratti squad have already offered their services to PoJ.
‘We’ve obviously got our core players in mind but we will be busy from now on in going to watch Combination league games and Jersey Bulls games,’ Scott explained.
‘The World Cup is something new and different for the lads to be involved in and myself and Stuart will be more visible as we try to select the strongest squad possible.’
The 2020 Sportsbet.io ConIFA World Cup – backed by the same company who sponsor Watford FC’s shirts – will attract 16 teams to the North Macedonian capital from 30 May-7 June, marking the end of a busy period which promises to include a dilemma or two.
Following the conclusion of Bulls’ debut campaign and a potential run to the Inter-League Cup final for the JFA Combination, Jersey’s representative side take centre stage for the Muratti on Saturday 16 May.
But from there selection could get murky.
Scott and JFA boss Martin Cassidy will both be picking squads for the weekend of 23-24 May for two separate competitions, leaving the Island’s top players with a choice to make.
PoJ are due to travel to Surrey for a ‘pre-World Cup’ tournament while the JFA host the five-day Jacksons International Trophy, which last year featured two national teams from Ireland and non-league select outfit Middlesex Wanderers.
Eleven of the 16 picked for the 2019 Muratti have played a part in at least one PoJ game since October 2018 and many of those are likely to be wanted by both coaches.
Tamil Eelam (Sri Lanka), Mapuche (Chile/Argentina), Matabeleland (Zimbabwe) and United Koreans in Japan are among the 16 regions named for the 16-team tournament.
PoJ qualified as the second-best ranked European side, behind Kernow (Cornwall).
Full story in Wednesday’s JEP.
