Tweet
Simoes promises better performance against The Bahamas
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
René Simoes - LeVaughn Flynn
National Technical Director, René Simoes, believes that Tuesday's humiliating 2-1 defeat at the hands of Grenada will serve as a wake-up call for the Reggae Boyz as they head into Sunday's crucial opening World Cup qualifier against The Bahamas.
"I think it was a good wake-up call for the entire squad. We can't look at Bahamas like how we looked on Grenada," Simoes told reporters, following the team's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday afternoon.
"Football is not a sport that you can take winning for granted - the fact is that anyone can beat anyone," he said.
Indeed, many Jamaicans must have thought they were dreaming when they heard the score from the Grenada National Stadium in St George's at the end of Tuesday's friendly. Quick second-half goals from Shalrie Joseph and Jason Roberts knocked the Reggae Boyz flat, after the visitors had secured a 1-0 lead through Ricardo Fuller in the first half.
With Sunday's encounter against another underdog, The Bahamas, who are ranked at 167th in the latest FIFA rankings, some supporters have begun to look at the possibility of an unthinkable early exit from the qualifiers for the 'Boyz'. However, Simoes believes that the added pressure stemming from the loss to Grenada will only inspire the team to do better.
"The result puts a lot of pressure on the camp; All of us are as vexed as the rest of Jamaica is about the result, and I just hope it will be a wake-up call," said Simoes.
"The next game cannot be the same. I guarantee you it will not be the same," he added.
Despite the surprising loss, one Simoes believes to be one of the worst the country has faced, he remains confident in the team's ability.
"I think this team can perform well. We cannot do what we did against Grenada, so there is no need for a crisis or doubt," Simoes said.
In their two previous matches, Jamaica beat St Vincent and the Grenadines 5-1 at the National Stadium, and secured a late equaliser against Trinidad and Tobago for a 1-1 draw last Saturday.
Jamaica officially open their CONCACAF qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa this Sunday when they take on The Bahamas in a 6 p.m. encounter at the National Stadium. The teams will face each other four days later in the return leg of the qualifier, which will be played at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
René Simoes - LeVaughn Flynn
National Technical Director, René Simoes, believes that Tuesday's humiliating 2-1 defeat at the hands of Grenada will serve as a wake-up call for the Reggae Boyz as they head into Sunday's crucial opening World Cup qualifier against The Bahamas.
"I think it was a good wake-up call for the entire squad. We can't look at Bahamas like how we looked on Grenada," Simoes told reporters, following the team's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday afternoon.
"Football is not a sport that you can take winning for granted - the fact is that anyone can beat anyone," he said.
Indeed, many Jamaicans must have thought they were dreaming when they heard the score from the Grenada National Stadium in St George's at the end of Tuesday's friendly. Quick second-half goals from Shalrie Joseph and Jason Roberts knocked the Reggae Boyz flat, after the visitors had secured a 1-0 lead through Ricardo Fuller in the first half.
With Sunday's encounter against another underdog, The Bahamas, who are ranked at 167th in the latest FIFA rankings, some supporters have begun to look at the possibility of an unthinkable early exit from the qualifiers for the 'Boyz'. However, Simoes believes that the added pressure stemming from the loss to Grenada will only inspire the team to do better.
"The result puts a lot of pressure on the camp; All of us are as vexed as the rest of Jamaica is about the result, and I just hope it will be a wake-up call," said Simoes.
"The next game cannot be the same. I guarantee you it will not be the same," he added.
Despite the surprising loss, one Simoes believes to be one of the worst the country has faced, he remains confident in the team's ability.
"I think this team can perform well. We cannot do what we did against Grenada, so there is no need for a crisis or doubt," Simoes said.
In their two previous matches, Jamaica beat St Vincent and the Grenadines 5-1 at the National Stadium, and secured a late equaliser against Trinidad and Tobago for a 1-1 draw last Saturday.
Jamaica officially open their CONCACAF qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa this Sunday when they take on The Bahamas in a 6 p.m. encounter at the National Stadium. The teams will face each other four days later in the return leg of the qualifier, which will be played at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.
Comment