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Bahamas coach: We have nothing to prove
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter
walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Minnows Bahamas will enter today's World Cup Qualification game against Jamaica with nothing to prove but to do their best and hope that the expected pressure will take its toll on the home team.
Technical director, Brazilian Neider Dos Santos, who was appointed last March, said the Reggae Boyz are clear favourites but football is won on the field of play.
"Jamaica is clearly the favourite for the game, but football is not played on paper, football is played on the field," said Dos Santos. "I am just looking forward to have my players going out there and playing the best football and, of course, knowing that all the pressure is on the Jamaica side because they are the ones who have to prove."
Quizzed as to his knowledge of the Jamaica team, the Brazilian said, "I know they have a lot of Premier League players so they have everything to prove. My players don't have any pressure because we have nothing to prove."
"I know players from the Premier League and I saw the game against St Vincent," added Dos Santos. "They draw with Trinidad & 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 pass and things are not going too well, they will start to feel pressure from the stands also."
Dos Santos, who was at the helm when the Bahamas shocked Jamaica's Olympic team 1-0 in qualifiers last year, said he was just taking it one game at a time.
"I can't think about the two games. I only think about tomorrow's game knowing that I don't take considerations further than tomorrow," he said. "Again, Jamaica is the favourite, but no football game in the world, regardless of what, is 100 per cent for one team. Only after the last whistle when the game is done we can prove that," he said as he relaxed while watching the Reggae Boyz's final training session.
"Only last year we beat Jamaica one-nil. I would say 80 per cent of that team is here. That's the foundation of my team.
"We have nothing to lose; we come here and try to do our best and see what happens after 90 minutes."
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter
walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Minnows Bahamas will enter today's World Cup Qualification game against Jamaica with nothing to prove but to do their best and hope that the expected pressure will take its toll on the home team.
Technical director, Brazilian Neider Dos Santos, who was appointed last March, said the Reggae Boyz are clear favourites but football is won on the field of play.
"Jamaica is clearly the favourite for the game, but football is not played on paper, football is played on the field," said Dos Santos. "I am just looking forward to have my players going out there and playing the best football and, of course, knowing that all the pressure is on the Jamaica side because they are the ones who have to prove."
Quizzed as to his knowledge of the Jamaica team, the Brazilian said, "I know they have a lot of Premier League players so they have everything to prove. My players don't have any pressure because we have nothing to prove."
"I know players from the Premier League and I saw the game against St Vincent," added Dos Santos. "They draw with Trinidad & 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 pass and things are not going too well, they will start to feel pressure from the stands also."
Dos Santos, who was at the helm when the Bahamas shocked Jamaica's Olympic team 1-0 in qualifiers last year, said he was just taking it one game at a time.
"I can't think about the two games. I only think about tomorrow's game knowing that I don't take considerations further than tomorrow," he said. "Again, Jamaica is the favourite, but no football game in the world, regardless of what, is 100 per cent for one team. Only after the last whistle when the game is done we can prove that," he said as he relaxed while watching the Reggae Boyz's final training session.
"Only last year we beat Jamaica one-nil. I would say 80 per cent of that team is here. That's the foundation of my team.
"We have nothing to lose; we come here and try to do our best and see what happens after 90 minutes."