COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — It looks increasingly likely that both Omar Cummings and Tyrone Marshall will not be available for the Jamaican national team for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Cummings told MLSsoccer.com last weekend that he had written to the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) asking not to be considered for at least the group stages of the tournament as he continues to recover from a sprained ankle sustained May 4 in the Rapids’ game against Houston.
A Rapids spokesman told MLSsoccer.com Thursday that Cummings has now been removed from the Jamaican roster.
Marshall, meanwhile, said last weekend that he was still seeking clarification from the JFF about what his exact role would be in the tournament. The Rapids — who lost defender Marvell Wynne for at least a couple weeks to a hamstring injury suffered last weekend against Sporting Kansas City — are short on depth on the back line, and Marshall has expressed his desire to at least skip the group stage of the tournament.
Marshall said he’s reached out to the JFF while they prepare for the Gold Cup in Brazil, but has had little luck.
“There hasn’t been much chance of getting in touch with the Jamaican coaches in Brazil but, with everything going on here, I would hope [I’ll stay here],” Marshall said Thursday.
Jamaica begin their Gold Cup against Grenada on June 6 and have two other games over the following week against Guatemala (June 10) and Honduras (June 13).
Marshall didn’t rule out possibly joining the team later in the tournament but much will depend on the status of Wynne and Drew Moor, the latter of which is suffering from a tight hamstring. For now, his focus will be on the Rapids game against Philadelphia this weekend.
“It looks like a great opportunity to get back on a winning streak and get three points,” he said.
With both players looking likely to stay in Colorado, it means no Rapids players would be represented in the Gold Cup. That is a boon to head coach Gary Smith, who has already dealt with a long injury list most of the season.
“Of course, from my point of view, I’m delighted,” he said. “But, in all probability, we will again be without four or five first team starters this weekend so I don’t see that as any different from teams like New York.”
