Bahamas first obstacle on road 'Back to Africa'

[Karl]

Bahamas first obstacle on road 'Back to Africa'


LeVaughn Flynn photos-Left: Reggae Boyz (from left) Marlon King, Omar Daley and Andy Williams participate in a training session at the National Stadium yesterday.

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Rene Simoes' honeymoon ends at six o' clock tomorrow evening when the Reggae Boyz bow into CONCACAF World Cup qualifying action against The Bahamas at the National Stadium.

Jamaica's decorated Reggae Boyz playing Caribbean minnows Bahamas would have caused fans to scoff, at least a week ago.

However, the Boyz's shocking 2-1 loss to Grenada on Tuesday has even the most ardent fan in doubt for Jamaica's World Cup qualifying opener.
Simoes said he was ashamed after the Grenada debacle, fielding a team stacked with overseas-based professionals and the best of local talent.

The Brazilian's time in Jamaica is pinned on qualifying Jamaica for South Africa 2010 and he has promised a better showing against The Bahamas, who they will face in return action on Wednesday at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

formation change?

Still fiddling with his starting line-up and formation, Simoes is reportedly set to switch from 3-5-2 and his reliance on a sweeper to a flat back four in a 4-4-2 set-up.

Ricardo Fuller, the largely unimpressive Stoke City striker, is injured and will be replaced by Luton Shelton of Sheffield United, partnering Marlon King of Wigan Athletic in attack.

Demar Phillips, Rudolph Austin, Evan Taylor and Andy Williams make-up the midfield quartet, whereas the back-four has captain Ricardo Gardener on the left, Tyrone Marshall on the right with Jermaine Taylor and Ian Goodison as central defenders.

Simoes, who utilised a 5-3-2 formation when qualifying Jamaica for France 1998, has openly voiced his preference for a 'libero' or sweeper in defence and used newcomer Simon Ford in that position at the Stadium during the Boyz's 5-1 trouncing of St Vincent and the Grenadines on June 3.

The Boyz's loss to Grenada has boosted The Bahamas' confidence not to mention their 1-0 Under-23 win against Jamaica in Haiti last October.

Bahamas drove the first nail into Jamaica's hopes to qualify for the Beijing Olympics when they shocked the Under-23 Boyz 1-0 in their CFU Group H encounter at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

young bahamians

Ranked 167th on FIFA's list, The Bahamas will be fielding several Under-23 players, including the goalscorer, Lesley St Fleur, whose 86th minute goal knocked out the junior Reggae Boyz Olympic dreams in October.
In recent games, they advanced from the opening round of qualifying, drawing 1-1 then 2-2 to advance on away goals over the British Virgin Islands.

Both games were played in The Bahamas, who led the second match 2-0 at half-time but conceded in the second half including a penalty in the dying moments.

On paper, The Bahamas should prove no match for Jamaica and their galaxy of stars. Shelton is looking to command a starting role alongside King and could seal his place with an impressive per-formance as Fuller has failed to reproduce the form that took his team to the Premiership, even though scoring a header in Grenada on Tuesday.

The veteran Williams and the youngster Taylor are also aiming to stay in Simoes' good book as midfield starters, whereas the defenders will have to prove to the Brazilian that they're capable of keeping out goals with a 4-4-2 formation.

[Karl]

Group and Standing

http://fifa.com/worldcup/preliminari...ngs/index.html

Costa Rica held by Grenada

(FIFA.com) Saturday 14 June 2008

Costa Rica needed a comeback and even then could only manage a 2-2 draw against Grenada in their CONCACAF second round qualifying first leg.

Patrick Modeste opened the scoring 20 minutes in and England-based Jason Roberts made it a two-goal lead seven minutes later before Armando Alonso cut the deficit in the 42nd minute and Junior Diaz equalised in the 75th.

Suriname pulled off a minor shock on Saturday by beating neighbours Guyana 1-0 in Paramaribo in their first leg match. The Guyanese were one of the 12 seeded teams in the region, but looked a shadow of themselves in their first qualifier.

Domestic-based Clifton Sandvliet, playing in his 67th game for Suriname, popped up unmarked in the 53rd minute to grab the only goal of the contest and keep up the team's form after eliminating Montserrat 7-1 over two legs in the last round.

More to follow.

Latest results
Suriname 1-0 Guyana
Grenada 2-2 Costa Rica

Today's fixtures
Puerto Rico-Honduras (second leg)
Guatemala-St. Lucia

[Karl]

New World ready to roll

New World ready to roll
With no less than 35 sides hoping to snatch up one of the 3.5 slots at South Africa 2010 on offer in the region, CONCACAF is bound to get competitive once matches commence in early 2008. Age-old rivals USA and Mexico will be favourites to finish in the first and second spots, while Costa Rica hope to keep up their fine qualifying form of late with a third straight appearance on the world stage.

On the outside looking in, though, are a good number of talented hopefuls keen on making their own history. Among them are perennial nearly men Honduras, tricky T&T, Canada, the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica, plus Panama and Guatemala.

Thinning the minnows
The first round of competition will see the 24 lowest-ranked teams in action with the aim of thinning the herd to 12 ahead of the big names' entrance into the equation.

Next up for the lucky 11 first stage winners (and St. Vincent / Grenadines who have a bye to the second phase) will be the formidable task of taking on one of the region's powers over two legs. If all goes according to plan, the big three in the region (USA, Mexico and Costa Rica) could be in for some true tests in their third round home-away round robin groups.

The regional champions USA could meet near neighbours Cuba, Guatemala and T&T, who qualified for Germany 2006, while Mexico may find themselves in for long trips to Honduras, Canada and Jamaica. Costa Rica can count on some keenly contested encounters if they meet Guyana - undefeated for 14 matches between 2004 and 2006, Panama and Caribbean champions Haiti.

The top two teams from each of the third-round groups will then move into a six-team final qualifying round, with the top three qualifying directly for South Africa 2010, and the fourth lining up in a two-legged play-off against South America's fifth finisher.

History lessons
The United States finished tops in the region ahead of fierce rivals Mexico for the first time in qualifying for Germany 2006, surely putting the heated rivalry into high gear this time around. Mexico have qualified for a regional-best 12 finals overall, but the States have been on the ascendancy since qualifying for Italy 1990 after a 40-year stint without an appearance.

Costa Rica are defending Central American champions and have qualified for the last two finals since making their world debut in 1990. They will be fancying their chances under new coach and former striking legend Hernan Medford, but do not look as formidable a side as they once were.
With the big three entrenched as favourites to return to the world stage, there is a raft of improving sides looking to break in. Trinidad and Tobago will be chief among them, even with the absence of talismanic coach Leo Beenhakker and the retirement of former Manchester United great Dwight Yorke.

A new hope
Panama have been moving from strength to strength of late. They reached the final qualifying round ahead of Germany 2006 for the first time in their history and finished runners-up to the USA at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005.

Guatemala, who only just missed out on a spot at Germany 2006, will also be hoping things go slightly better this time around and counting on their gifted goal-getter Carlos El Pescadito Ruiz. Although they are going through a rebuilding phase, Jamaica could be a squad to be wary of also as resurgent Canada hope to make their second finals appearance at South Africa 2010.

The question
Can Honduras finally live up to their billing and muscle into the world finals in South Africa in 2010?

[Karl]

Quotes!

Bradley (USA): A very hard test

Bob Bradley, USA (Coach):
"It's fair to say that teams in CONCACAF are improving across the board. If we end up meeting Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and Cuba we could be in for a very hard test. They are teams that we know well, and we know they are very talented opponents. 2007 has been a lot about bringing in new players to the US national team and I think that we are doing a good job of encouraging the newer guys to step up and try to fill the gaps left by the retirement of Brian McBride, Eddie Pope and Claudio Reyna."

Hugo Sanchez, Mexico (Coach):
"Teams have improved a lot in the CONCACAF region. With our history, Mexico look the strongest team but in practice you've got to out and play these games and the sides we're facing have got much better. We're going to prepare properly to make sure there are no surprises and get the results we need. Honduras will be dangerous opponents as we played them in the Gold Cup and they beat us. They've got players in Europe and that shows they've come on. We'll make sure our preparations are right so we can win the game and qualify for the final group."

Dale Mitchell, Canada (Coach):
"It's tough for everybody now in CONCACAF. You have a lot of good teams and you can't take anyone for granted. If we get through to the first group stage we'll probably meet Mexico, who everybody knows is great, Jamaica who can cause problems and Honduras who are very dangerous. Also, we got hit with the highest of the low-ranked teams in St. Kitts and Nevis in our first game. That's good though, we'll have to be ready to go right from the beginning. We still have six months to go before qualifying and we're just in the beginning of starting to get things ready, so we're not worried."

Hernan Medford, Costa Rica (Coach):
"Costa Rica have been guilty of over-confidence in previous qualification campaigns and because of that we've sometimes struggled before getting through. Things have got to change this time. Although we're not exactly in a "group of death" - that's what Mexico have got - we can't fall into to the trap of thinking we're better than our opponents before the games. We're going to prepare to take each game very seriously. We know Panama well and Haiti too, having played them recently (a 1-1 draw). They have improved a lot and will continue to do so. I don't know anything about Guyana or the Virgin Islands but no doubt we'll be taking a look at them when they play each other."

Wim Rijsbergen, Trinidad and Tobago (Coach): "Cayman Islands or Bermuda! Well of course we will do everything possible to get all the information on these two countries and we will watch them closely before June. Of course will be looking to have the best group of players to face either of these two teams. And if you see in June that's when in Europe it's either preparation or vacation time so and we have players based there so we will have to work around that. The local players will also be in season in the local League so that's an advantage.

[OJ]

Grenada tied costa rica 2-2

[Raggs]

May the spirit of Marcus Garvey go with dem......

[Time]

Grenada Score Goals

Grenada tied costa rica 2-2

... I am not surprized that Costa Rica did not beat them.

[Karl]

Boyz bid for glory
... face Bahamas in first hurdle of World Cup campaignBy Ian Burnett Sport Editor burnetti@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008


With a whole nation desperate for a repeat dose of the success of 1998, Jamaica's Senior men's football team begins its quest on the road to the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals with a first-leg, second-round CONCACAF Qualifying series against the Bahamas here at Kingston's National Stadium at 6:00 pm today.

The second leg will be played at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Wednesday at 4:00 pm.

Ranked 98th on the FIFA list, host Jamaica will be meeting the 167th-ranked Bahamians for the first time at the senior level, as they kick off on their ninth World Cup Qualifying campaign, dating back to 1965.

Since then Jamaica have entered all editions, except those of 1974 in West Germany, 1982 in Spain and 1986 in Mexico.

The game will also mark the 73rd World Cup Qualification match for Jamaica, and the 35th at home in the competition.

Technical director Rene Simoes (left) and assistant coach Theodore Whitmore walk onto the field for a practice session at the National Stadium last night. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
It will also be a nostalgic reunion for Brazilian technical director Rene Simoes, who was reappointed as head of the technical team in January after the return of Captain Horace Burrell to the presidency of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

It was primarily that duo who led the outlandish dream of a nation to the historic 1998 World Cup Finals qualification in France, and Simoes's last game with Jamaica in this competition would have been that unforgettable 2-1 victory over Japan in Lyon, France.

In 1997 Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals.

On the other hand, the Bahamas are contesting only their third World Cup Qualifying campaign, following appearances in 2002 and 2006, and their ninth match overall. The odds are stacked heavily against the nation of about 700 islands.

But following a stunning 1-2 loss against lowly ranked Grenada on Tuesday in that eastern Caribbean island, Simoes told the Sunday Observer that there is no chance of complacency setting in on his Boyz.

"There is no chance," he asserted authoritatively. "This is the World Cup and there is only one chance," he added.

But Simoes will be facing a completely different scenario from when he first arrived for the historic 1998 campaign. Now he has precious little time to mould a team with the right personnel and chemistry, but he will have a lot more professionals at his disposal and the onus will be on him to get the right mix.

But based on evidence from Jamaica's five matches since the little moustachioed Brazilian returned to the fold, it appears he is still not yet sure of the right personnel or the system that best suits the players.

In his first game back against Costa Rica on February 6, Simoes employed a 4-4-2 formation, and he did the same against Trinidad and Tobago on March 26.

In the recent friendly games against St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada, he switched to the 3-5-2 formation, but based on his training sessions this week, there appears to be another switch to the 4-4-2 formation.
He would not confirm the switch, but said he would be using the best formation for the team.
"I'm going to play the game," he said. "The Bahamas, they play with one striker only...in the game I saw them play against BVI. We are prepared to play any system...but it's what's best for the team."

Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller will sit out today's game with what appears to be a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. His place will be taken by the speedy Luton Shelton, who will partner ace striker Marlon King in attack.

Donovan Ricketts will tend goal, and will be supported by veteran Ian Goodison and Harbour View's Jermaine Taylor in central defence, flanked by captain Ricardo Gardner on the left and Tyrone Marshall on the right.
The midfield will be manned by Demar Phillips, Rudolph Austin, Andy Williams and the inexperienced Evon Taylor.

"What we need is a very intense game against the Bahamas," Simoes said. "This ball cannot stop...we have to create space, we have to make rotations, we have to read the movement of the strikers, the support, the penetration."

And still smarting from Tuesday's 1-2 loss to Grenada, Simoes promised that the team will be much better off for that result and the Bahamas could be in for a backlash.
"I think they look much better now..I think they're very focused for this game against the Bahamas."

The Bahamas, who arrived in the island at nearly 2:00 am yesterday, held a training session at the National Stadium last evening with a youthful side, made up of 12 players who participated in their shocking 1-0 upset of Jamaica at last year's CONCACAF Olympic Games qualifier in Haiti. The bulk of the players represent local clubs in the national New Providence League and universities in the United States.

Some of their most recognised players appear to be striker Happy Hall of Appalachian State University, Demont Mitchell of Hosfra University and goalkeeper Dwayne Whylly of Yale Bulldogs.

Their technical director, Brazilian Neider Dos Santos appeared unperturbed when he spoke to the Sunday Observer.
"I know players from the premier league and I saw the game against St Vincent. They draw with Trinidad and Tobago then they lost to Grenada. I know Grenada and they are a good team. That defeat to Grenada put more pressure on them. I know how football works and if 30 minutes of the first half passes and things are not going too well, they will start to feel pressure from the stands also," he said.

Dos Santos, who was at the helm in the shock win last year, said he was just taking it one game at a time.

Squad: The Bahamas - Dwayne Whylly, Shari-Cardeece Clarke, Daron Beneby, Michael Bethel, Lamar Cancino, Gavin Christie, Dwayne Forbes, Happy Hall, Cameron Hepple, Nesley Jean, Demont Mitchell and brother Denair Mitchell, Justin Sealy, Connor Sheehan, Lesly St Fleur, Damani Horton, Alexander Wallace-Vanderpool, Kyle Williams.

[Karl]

Day of redemption

Day of redemption
published: Sunday | June 15, 2008

Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

Simoes and Gardner
ON THE heels of the mental and physical bruising dealt to them by Grenada in a friendly battle last Tuesday, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz are aiming to make a strong rebound when they bow into the 2010 qualification series for South Africa's World Cup finals, in a clash against lowly Bahamas at 'The Office'.

When they report for work at 7 p.m. in the opening leg of a two-way fixture that unusually, will be played here. Football's world governing body, FIFA, declared Bahamas' football facilities unfit for World Cup qualifiers so what should have rightly been their home game will be played here, next Wednesday at the multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny.
keen expectations

There are keen expectations today that Jamaica's 'ballers, ranked 97th, will be most business-like and display form that runs contrary to their preparation, which has evoked some amount of uncertainty.

In recent practice matches, the Boyz walloped St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 5-1 and drew with Trinidad and Tobago 1-1 away, but couldn't finish off the business when leading and were pegged back to a 2-2 draw with Soca Warriors here, then going down 1-2 to 143rd ranked Grenada on Tuesday.


Reggae Boyz (from left) Marlon King, Omar Daley and Andy Williams participate in a training session at the National Stadium on Friday. - Photos by LeVaughn Flynn
Besides pride, the Jamaicans took a real battering in that defeat through an injury that deprived the team of its starting striker Ricardo Fuller, who not only scored during that encounter, but is in rich form at the moment, having led Stoke City's charge from the English League

[Karl]

Boyz look to deliver Father's Day gift

Boyz look to deliver Father's Day gift

BY DANIA BOGLE Observer staff reporter
bogled@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008


SOME of them are fathers themselves, some are not, but no matter what side of the fence they sit on, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will be hoping for a positive result in their World Cup Qualifier against the Bahamas today to make either their own fathers or children proud.


MARSHALL... Father's Day motivation to make children, father smile

Captain Ricardo Gardner, who has a one-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter, said they will both be in the stands this evening.
"I'm blessed to be a father of two children and I get up everyday and give thanks for that and just try to grow them in the right manner," he shared with the Sunday Observer.

"It will be great for me to play in front of them... knowing that it's Fathers Day and it will be great to get a result... that will even make the day better," he added.

For O'Neil 'Bigga' Thompson, the day will be even more poignant. He has spent much of the last year-and-a-half living thousands of miles away in Norway, playing with club side Notodden.

The former Boys' Town star said it would be nice to be home this Fathers Day and spend the time playing in front of his children.
"It's a joy to play for the country and also have my kids... on the sidelines. I'm looking forward to seeing them at the game," he said.

Thompson told the Sunday Observer that though he has had to be away from his children, he tries to impart the importance of his work.
"It's tough but I try to get across and let them know that's how they go to school, that's how they live a life," he said.
"They can come there, but it's a totally different life from in Jamaica and it's best to let them have a life they want to live than just to see me and live a sad life," he said.

Richard Langley, who plays for Luton Town in England, said his Jamaican father was trying to return home to see the game, but was unable to make it.
The 28-year-old, who is not yet a father, will regret his dad's absence.
"I'm sorry he won't be able to be here but I know he's proud that I'm out here and he would prefer me to be out here doing well than be over there with him," he said.
"I will have to make it up to him when I get back."

Father of four, Tyrone Marshall, said the fact that it is Father's Day will be his motivation to make his children and father smile.
"It's a great day to play on, especially seeing that your dad's in the stand and you have kids of your own, you want to make everyone proud. that's my motivation. just get out there and play my best, hopefully get a goal, say 'Happy Father's Day!' to my dad and hopefully my kids will say great 'goal dad' and make me feel well."

Marshall's father is a former Jamaican international.

Twenty-four-year-old Demar Phillips hasn't got any children and said this game will be for his father, who will be among the spectators at the National Stadium this afternoon.
"I'm proud to be here; if it wasn't for my father and my mom I wouldn't be here, so I would hope to play and score a goal for my father because it's Father's Day," he said.

Even those that have not always had the best of relationships with their dads wished them the best and said they would give their fathers a call and wish them 'Happy Father's Day'.

Gardner aptly summed it up" "Yeah.definitely, even if it's bad from before. no problem."

Happy Fathers Day and best of luck to the Reggae Boyz.

[Mosiah]

I'm off to the stadium to see my big side!!!

[Tilla]

Walk good and prepare to give a report on here later.