| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Karl |
Posted - Jul 18 2004 : 08:08:54 AM
We have not lost confidence in Carl, says Boxhill
Saturday, July 17, 2004, 6:12:20 PM
IP:196.32.6.137
Livingston Scott, Observer staff reporter
Saturday, July 17, 2004
BOXHILL ... insisted that Brown is still the man in charge of the national programme, although Lazaroni will take full responsibility for the senior team
Crenston Boxhill, the president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and a long-time friend of technical director Carl Brown, has reiterated that his federation's acquisition of Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni as head coach of the national senior team has nothing to do with his federation losing confidence in Brown.
'I just hope that this will make it absolutely clear. It has nothing to do with the federation losing confidence in Carl Brown,' Boxhill told the Sporting World yesterday..
'Carl Brown and myself, we are coming from way back. We were in the programme from the early days when it used to cost us to run the programme, so Carl and I have developed a good relationship over the years,' he said.
'And since I became president,' he continued, 'Carl and I have been having discussions formally and informally as to what we think we can do to enhance our chances of qualifying for World Cup in Germany.
'Out of one such discussion Carl suggested that the one person he thinks could help us or enhance our chances is Lazaroni.
'So he was the one who recommended Lazaroni and I, the president, just took it from there.'
Boxhill said the issue was discussed thoroughly with Brown before and after his return to meet with Lazaroni in Brazil recently.
'When I left the island on Monday (last) I had a meeting with Carl in my office and I told him that I will be going with an open mind.
'But one thing I know for sure as soon as I got back to Jamaica any discussion Lazaroni and myself had I was going to make sure we discussed it before making any agreement.
'I came back home (last) Saturday morning and Carl and I had breakfast. I filled him in on how the meetings went and told him the terms and conditions under which Lazaroni would come, which of course is being in charge of the senior team and Carl gave it his full blessing,' the JFF head said.
He insisted that Brown is still the man in charge of national programme, although Lazaroni will take full responsibility for the senior team.
'Mr Brown still remains the technical director of Jamaica's football programme,' Boxhill explained. 'The programme is not only the World Cup, there are so many aspects to it, from the youth programme to the female programme.
'So Carl is the technical director of Jamaica's programme, but Lazaroni is the head coach for the senior national team and the person responsible for helping us qualify for the World Cup.
'Which means, God forbid, if something should happen and we do not move on to the next round then that would be as far as Lazaroni goes,' he said.
'But as it relates to the senior national team and the journey to Germany, Lazaroni is in charge of that programme,' he said.
Meanwhile, Boxhill noted that his federation will continue to give Onandi Lowe moral support after he was officially charged on drug offences in England on Wednesday.
Boxhill said it was difficult to say if the big striker would wear the national colours again, but vowed that his administration would stick by him to the end.
'That is a question I cannot answer at this time( If he will play for Jamaica again).
'What I do know is that we have sent out the press release and we now know of the new development and we can only wish Onandi the best as we have been doing since day one.
'With the hope that soon and very soon he and his legal team can be able to clear his name.
'We have been giving him moral support and we will continue to give him moral support.
'I have not contacted him (since charged). His manager has contacted the federation through our press officer and I am certain that before the week is through we will be in full contact,' Boxhill said.
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| Karl |
Posted - Jul 29 2004 : 09:41:56 AM
The stone that the builder refused' - Lazaroni to rely heavily on Brown for USA encounter
BRAZILIAN coach Sebastiao Lazaroni might have traveled to Jamaica with all of three assistants but will have to rely heavily on technical director Carl Brown's judgement for the Reggae Boyz' August 18 match-up against the United States at the National Stadium.
Lazaroni, who arrived in the island Saturday along with three of his countrymen, assigned the duty of guiding Jamaica to World Cup Germany 2006, has been thrown into the deep end of the pool by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
The Brazilian, who walked away from Jamaica's football programme four years ago after succeeding Rene Simoes, won't get a chance to see the Reggae Boyz at full strength in a friendly match. Nor will he have a strong squad at his disposal until at least three days before the midweek game, Jamaica's opening match in the CONCACAF semi-final round.
No practice game
"We're going into the USA match without a practice game," JFF president Crenston Boxhill told STAR Sports Sunday, explaining that a friendly match against Guatemala, arranged for July 28 or August 11, had to be canceled due to the reluctance of English and American clubs to release players.
The JFF boss admitted it was not an ideal position especially with Lazaroni and his crew missing Jamaica's second round tie against Haiti.
"The good thing is that the new technical staff is not here in place of the present staff but in addition," he said. "Lazaroni will have to rely heavily on Carl Brown for information heading into this game."
Boxhill said the JFF intended to have the Boyz play two friendlies ahead of the USA match and almost confirmed Guatemala.
"Unfortunately it's now pre-season in England and we can't get the Major League Soccer players either, he said.
"We're finding it impossible to get the players," Boxhill pointed out. "We've written to the clubs but they have refused. Most clubs want to get off to a good start and some are even outside England doing pre-season training.
"It would be difficult, if not impossible, to arrange a friendly. It wouldn't serve the purpose intended. We wouldn't get the practice needed nor have the quality players to draw a crowd to offset costs.
"We had to cancel both games and there's no other FIFA date for the rest of the year," he added.
With the Nationwide Divisions starting ahead of the Premiership, which kicks off August 14, Boxhill said he doesn't expect to have the bulk of the squad in Jamaica before August 13.
"We won't even have a week with them," he said. |
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