Yes, he wants the Reggae Boyz to get those crucial three points that would get them closer to their goal of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar but he also believes that it would be a good way to honour the memory of Jamaica’s greatest striker, Luton Shelton, a day after his birthday.
Shelton, Jamaica’s leading male striker with 35 goals from 75 appearances for Jamaica’s national team, died January 22 from ALS. He would have been 36 years old on Thursday and Lowe believes an impressive win would be an appropriate way to honour his memory.
Shelton was not only remembered for his exploits on the field but he was also well-loved by his teammates and his community.
“Shelton was special in so many ways, on and off the field,” Lowe recalled. “His achievements speak for themselves but he was so humble. He always tried to guide and help people around him. He was also the spark in the room, clowning and joking.
“His quality separated him from the pack. He was definitely loved.”
The JFF honoured Shelton’s memory on Instagram on Thursday when they posted, “Today would have been Luton Shelton’s 36th birthday. We miss you.”
Had he been alive, Shelton would have been proud to see the Reggae Boyz get the win and go on to qualify for the World Cup. It would perhaps be the best birthday present, ever.
Jamaica with five points is three points off the fourth spot held by Panama. A win over El Salvador on Friday would improve their chances of moving closer to the top three automatic qualifying spots currently held by Mexico, the United States and Canada, which have 14, 11 and 10 points respectively.
