Tweet
I am not bitter, says Clovis de Oliveira
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports Editor
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Former technical director, Brazilian Clovis de Oliveira, says he harbours no bitterness after he was "unceremoniously" fired from his job by the then Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration led by Captain Horace Burrell in 2001.
DE OLIVEIRA. Captain Burrell came to me and talked and we decided to end our contract, but I have no complaints (Photo: Sean Williams)
De Oliveira - leading the charge in the CONCACAF World Cup-qualifying tournament for Japan/Korea 2002 - was relieved of duty the very night the team lost 0-1 to Honduras in Tegucigalpa. That defeat dimmed the lights on the Reggae Boyz's campaign, forcing them into a must-win situation against the mighty USA on US soil a month later. They lost that game 1-2, effectively ending the crusade.
"No. Never ever. I am not bitter. I have worked with football for more than 30 years, and for a coach that is very normal. They (JFF) never got the result that they desired and the JFF still believed they had a chance to qualify for that World Cup, and they should do something to shake up the atmosphere, shake up the players, and motivate them in any way," said the Brazilian from his homeland during the Boyz's recent three-week visit.
Jamaican Carl Brown succeeded the Brazilian native.
De Oliveira said the parting between himself and the JFF was not as fractious as people made it out to be, and offered that it was in fact civil and professional as he looked back.
"Captain Burrell came to me and talked and we decided to end our contract, but I have no complaints. As you know after that I came back in Jamaica with Romario, and Captain Burrell was at the airport waiting for us, and it was a great reception," he noted.
"We had a dinner together and I took Romario to the son of Captain Burrell named Romario, as it was his birthday," the affable Brazilian recollected.
Jamaica, he claims, has a special place in his heart - an indelible mark that can never be erased.
"It was fantastic in my life to be in Jamaica doing my profession, dealing with the people, and that I will never forget," he said.
De Oliveira, who guided Jamaica's Under-20 team to the Youth World Cup in Argentina in 2001, said he has nothing but respect for JFF boss Burrell, long-time friend and partner, countryman Rene Simoes and JFF general secretary, Horace Reid.
"When you talk about football in Jamaica, you talk about Captain Burrell and Rene Simoes. I always say they should make gold statues of both men. and also Horace Reid who has worked so hard for Jamaica's football," he notes with a tone of sincerity.
On the senior Boyz and Girlz' recent tour of Brazil, de Oliveira was instrumental in making arrangements for the 64-member group in his hometown of Xerem, when they had first landed to begin the tour.
"It was very emotional to see Jamaicans and to hear patois and to help with things. But remember that it is not the first Jamaica national team that has been to this place. When we qualified for Argentina, we started to build here with the permission of Captain Burrell. This is my place, the place I was born although that's not where I live now," he said.
With his obvious popularity and clout in Xerem, a semi-rural town of Rio de Janeiro state, de Oliveira was able to get many of the group's living expenses discounted. He was able to negotiate 50 per cent discounts for laundry and accommodation, and further discounts on meals.
"I learnt that you people were coming here and coach Simoes called me and asked me for my help, and it was my pleasure because Jamaica is in my heart," he noted.
But what has de Oliveira been doing since leaving the Jamaica programme back in 2001?
"I have done so many things, of course working with football and working with coach Simoes on a number of projects. When he was at Coritiba FC, I wasn't with him because I was in Saudi Arabia coaching a first division team, but we were in Qatar together and also at the Olympic Games in Greece 2004 as I was his assistant with the women's team there," de Oliveira explained.
But right now, the lanky, fast-talking Brazilian is just waiting around for the right opportunity to get back fully into the game.
"I am waiting here now because I have some proposals out, but now I just look and wait. I am working out what is going to be my next step and hopefully I will find the best one. I have not decided on anything yet," he ended.
De Oliveira, who served as Simoes' assistant towards the end of the latter's stint, succeeded his countryman when the latter departed our shores in 2000, having led Jamaica to their first World Cup appearance in France 1998.
Simoes is back at the helm of Jamaica's football since January as the island nation looks for a repeat in South Africa 2010.
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports Editor
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Former technical director, Brazilian Clovis de Oliveira, says he harbours no bitterness after he was "unceremoniously" fired from his job by the then Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration led by Captain Horace Burrell in 2001.
DE OLIVEIRA. Captain Burrell came to me and talked and we decided to end our contract, but I have no complaints (Photo: Sean Williams) De Oliveira - leading the charge in the CONCACAF World Cup-qualifying tournament for Japan/Korea 2002 - was relieved of duty the very night the team lost 0-1 to Honduras in Tegucigalpa. That defeat dimmed the lights on the Reggae Boyz's campaign, forcing them into a must-win situation against the mighty USA on US soil a month later. They lost that game 1-2, effectively ending the crusade.
"No. Never ever. I am not bitter. I have worked with football for more than 30 years, and for a coach that is very normal. They (JFF) never got the result that they desired and the JFF still believed they had a chance to qualify for that World Cup, and they should do something to shake up the atmosphere, shake up the players, and motivate them in any way," said the Brazilian from his homeland during the Boyz's recent three-week visit.
Jamaican Carl Brown succeeded the Brazilian native.
De Oliveira said the parting between himself and the JFF was not as fractious as people made it out to be, and offered that it was in fact civil and professional as he looked back.
"Captain Burrell came to me and talked and we decided to end our contract, but I have no complaints. As you know after that I came back in Jamaica with Romario, and Captain Burrell was at the airport waiting for us, and it was a great reception," he noted.
"We had a dinner together and I took Romario to the son of Captain Burrell named Romario, as it was his birthday," the affable Brazilian recollected.
Jamaica, he claims, has a special place in his heart - an indelible mark that can never be erased.
"It was fantastic in my life to be in Jamaica doing my profession, dealing with the people, and that I will never forget," he said.
De Oliveira, who guided Jamaica's Under-20 team to the Youth World Cup in Argentina in 2001, said he has nothing but respect for JFF boss Burrell, long-time friend and partner, countryman Rene Simoes and JFF general secretary, Horace Reid.
"When you talk about football in Jamaica, you talk about Captain Burrell and Rene Simoes. I always say they should make gold statues of both men. and also Horace Reid who has worked so hard for Jamaica's football," he notes with a tone of sincerity.
On the senior Boyz and Girlz' recent tour of Brazil, de Oliveira was instrumental in making arrangements for the 64-member group in his hometown of Xerem, when they had first landed to begin the tour.
"It was very emotional to see Jamaicans and to hear patois and to help with things. But remember that it is not the first Jamaica national team that has been to this place. When we qualified for Argentina, we started to build here with the permission of Captain Burrell. This is my place, the place I was born although that's not where I live now," he said.
With his obvious popularity and clout in Xerem, a semi-rural town of Rio de Janeiro state, de Oliveira was able to get many of the group's living expenses discounted. He was able to negotiate 50 per cent discounts for laundry and accommodation, and further discounts on meals.
"I learnt that you people were coming here and coach Simoes called me and asked me for my help, and it was my pleasure because Jamaica is in my heart," he noted.
But what has de Oliveira been doing since leaving the Jamaica programme back in 2001?
"I have done so many things, of course working with football and working with coach Simoes on a number of projects. When he was at Coritiba FC, I wasn't with him because I was in Saudi Arabia coaching a first division team, but we were in Qatar together and also at the Olympic Games in Greece 2004 as I was his assistant with the women's team there," de Oliveira explained.
But right now, the lanky, fast-talking Brazilian is just waiting around for the right opportunity to get back fully into the game.
"I am waiting here now because I have some proposals out, but now I just look and wait. I am working out what is going to be my next step and hopefully I will find the best one. I have not decided on anything yet," he ended.
De Oliveira, who served as Simoes' assistant towards the end of the latter's stint, succeeded his countryman when the latter departed our shores in 2000, having led Jamaica to their first World Cup appearance in France 1998.
Simoes is back at the helm of Jamaica's football since January as the island nation looks for a repeat in South Africa 2010.