Three Timbers players called up for national team duty

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that forward Ryan Johnson, defender Alvas Powell and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts have been called up by the Jamaica National Team for upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Friday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 10.

Under new head coach Winfried Schafer, Jamaica will face Panama on Sept. 6, at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, Panama; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific). The Reggae Boyz then play host to Costa Rica on Sept. 10, at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica, at 5 p.m. (Pacific).

All three players departed Monday to join the Reggae Boyz and will miss the club’s regular-season match against Toronto FC on Saturday, Sept. 7, at JELD-WEN Field due to national team duty.

Johnson, 28, has earned 27 caps and scored eight goals for the Jamaica National Team, making his international debut in 2006. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Johnson has appeared in 10 of the Reggae Boyz’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, scoring a goal in a 2-1 win over Guatemala on June 8, 2012. He featured in all three of the team’s recent qualifiers against Mexico, the United States and Honduras in June.

Powell, 19, earns his first call-up to the Jamaica National Team since joining the Timbers on loan in late June. A native of Jamaica’s Portland Parish, Powell has five caps with the senior national team, featuring in each of Jamaica’s last three World Cup qualifiers. After representing Jamaica at the U-17 and U-20 levels, Powell made his senior international debut Dec. 10, 2012, during the 2012 Caribbean Cup.

Ricketts, 36, is a longtime member of the Jamaica National Team, earning 95 caps for the Reggae Boyz since making his team debut in 2000. The Montego Bay, Jamaica, native has appeared in seven 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, starting in each of the team’s three qualifiers in June against Mexico, the United States and Honduras. Ricketts has featured in Jamaica’s qualifying bids for the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and was a member of the country’s 1998 World Cup squad.