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| Karl |
Posted - Apr 14 2004 : 10:37:37 AM
By NODLEY WRIGHT, Freelance Writer
RESIDENT OF THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Crenston Boxhill, yesterday expressed satisfaction with the performance of the country's Under-20 team in the Die Auslosung Fur NOKIA-debitel-Cup 2004 held in Germany.
'I think the trip was a success,' Boxhill told THE STAR yesterday. 'I personally am very impressed with the way our players acquitted themselves especially in these climatic conditions. It was quite cold but they did perform well. We really have to find a way to keep this group together,' he continued.
The team, which is due to return to the island today, advanced to the second round of the 12-team tournament which was won by Juventus. Jamaica's Young Boyz finished with a 1-1-1 record. They beat Bayern Munich 1-0, lost 4-3 on penalties to Bayer Leverkusen after playing to a 0-0 draw in regulation time. They also drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund.
'When we beat Bayern Munich it caused a stir. People were quite pleased and even after the game some of them came to the hotel and congratulated us. This kind of performance has attracted the right kind of attention,' Boxhill said.
The performance of the team, he said, opened more doors for Jamaica's football.
'As a result of this we have gotten invitations to take part in other tournaments but nothing has been confirmed as yet. Even as we speak there are people here meeting with us who want us to be a part of their tournament,' explained Boxhill.
The attention, Boxhill said, could not have come at a better time as his administration is focusing on 'youth and the development of youth talent.'
Of the 18 players who made the trip, Boxhill said Akiem Priestly (Harbour View), Richard West (Santos) and Rudolph Austin (Los Perfectos) were spoken of highly by the viewers of the games. The players who made the trip were: Ryan Thompson, Ralston Robinson, Keiron Bernard, Jermaine Taylor, Nicholi Findlayson, Merrick Howard, Wade Spence, Ricardo Taylor, Rafe Wolfe, Keneil Moodie, Priestly, Duran Myton, Luton Shelton, West, Dean Thompson, Howard Wong, Austin and Andre Reid.
They were accompanied by a six-man delegation headed by Boxhill, George Evans (head of delegation), Carl Brown (technical director), Wendell Downswell (coach), Juan Pablo Camargo (masseur) and Howard Bell (team manager).
The entire party with the exception of Boxhill returned home yesterday. Boxhill stopped over in England for two days to finalise arrangements for a senior team training camp towards the end of May.
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| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Karl |
Posted - Apr 14 2004 : 10:40:12 AM
Brown praises Red Stripe
By PAUL-ANDRE WALKER, Staff Reporter
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF the Reggae Boyz, Carl Brown, thinks the recent $75 million dollar sponsorship deal agreed upon between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Red Stripe will make his job easier.
In an exclusive interview with the STAR after all I's had been dotted and T's crossed Brown explained how the sponsorship would benefit his bid to coach a successful Reggae Boyz contingent.
He first spoke of the contribution of Red Stripe even before the sponsorship deal and how it has already benefited the coaching staff.
'Red Stripe came on board about a year and a half ago when they heard the cry from us for somewhere to train because we didn't have our own ground to train and they offered the Red Stripe Oval. They made it available to us and this allowed us to plan training sessions at any time of the day and that has been so great,' he said.
Very critical
'Now we are talking about $75 million in terms of sponsorship on a programme that is very very critical not only to football but to this nation. We have a number of things on paper that we are sometimes not able to implement because of a lack of funds and that is what this (sponsorship) will allow us to do.
'As technical director there are a number of things that I have put together and given to the Federation that I would like to happen. For instance, I am hoping that I will be able to get a camp at the end of May when the English season ends and that will at least keep the players together for a while and get them focused on small details in preparation for the game on June 13. We are also thinking of another camp in Fort Lauderdale. Even though they (plans) were on paper and approved by the president they were very expensive. Now I'm certain that this (sponsorship) will go a far way in making them possible,' said Brown.
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