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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 18 2001 : 3:31:24 PM
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A FEW NECESSITIES FOR JA'S FOOTBALL
By Tony Becca
ALTHOUGH Jamaica still have a chance of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea, the odds against them are such that it does not look possible.
For Jamaica, on eight points, to make it, they not only have to win their remaining two matches - against the United States of America in America and against Costa Rica, but the USA and Mexico, on 13 points each, also have to perform way below par.
Apart from pulling themselves together in an effort to go out in style and to play their part in determining who go to Japan and South Korea as the representatives from CONCACAF, Jamaica's thoughts, therefore, should now be on what went wrong and how to rectify it - not only in an effort to win a place in the 2006 finals, but also to ensure that their football is of a consistently high standard.
Based on the firing of Basil de Oliveira by the Jamaica Football Federation and the reaction of a number of fans, Jamaica's poor showing this time around was due to the failure of the Technical Director. While that may be true, however, while his tactics and strategies may have been faulty, and while, as far as the level of indiscipline is concerned, enough is now coming out to suggest that it is true, the problems of Jamaica's football go beyond de Oliveira.
One of the problems is development, and if the quality of the country's football is to reach the level of skill that, win or lose, the fans will be proud of the team, the JFF must address that area.
In an effort to fulfil the dream of qualifying for the 1998 World Cup finals, the JFF went overseas for players with a Jamaican connection, and although there were many who were against it, that was understandable and it worked.
The overseas players brought with them experience and discipline. To have done so again, however, must have been a mistake - especially as far as the numbers were concerned, and although there was no shouting, no open confrontation, there were whispers against it - against the inclusion of those not developed in Jamaica.
It was a mistake, not only because some were past it, not only because some had become a law onto themselves, but also because it robbed local players, young, talented players at that, of the opportunity to develop their skills - to represent their country and to be motivated toward excellence.
Development is not an overnight process. It is a long process, it is investment, and even though the door should never be closed on Jamaicans abroad who want to represent Jamaica, even though there should always be a place for a few with the skill and the desire to represent Jamaica, the players at home are those who keep the game going. They are the ones involved in the development process, they should be the ones first on the list, and they should dominate the national team.
The JFF and any coach who is employed should understand that. They should understand that without the local players there would be no local football, that if the local players are not motivated, the standard will never improve. If the local players are forced to stand aside and watch while others who know little or nothing of Jamaica, who travel on foreign passports, who come from a different culture, and who, among things, speak differently dominate the team, they will lose interest.
It is important that the JFF think on these things, that they plan the future of Jamaica's football around the local players.
If they do this, they will guarantee continuity. They will then be able to put out a Jamaica team with players who understand each other - players who have been developed in one system, players with a general style of play, and players to whom victory for Jamaica really means something.
Another problem is indiscipline. Without good discipline, on and off the field, talent is no use, and the JFF must understand that. Good discipline is important while preparing one's self physically and mentally for a match, it is important in order to perform. The JFF must insist on good discipline from every one regardless how good he is or who he may be.
In planning for tomorrow, the JFF should also look at something else. Apart from a player's skill with a ball, apart from the fact that quality performance involves much more than skill, the JFF should look at who are selected to represent Jamaica and who is selected to be the captain of Jamaica.
The footballers who represent the country are representatives of the people, and win, lose or draw, the people should be proud of them.
Karl |
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