Simoes' Final Letter to the Jamaican People

[Rudi]

its is one load of ****************... Not because I am ungodly but imagine if he was coaching in the U.S or Canada and come with this. He needs to address why he did not call the senior or better players. Tell me why we did not have jamal Campbell Ryce. Why not Jermain J why did he play a 4-5 1 against Canada or why did he not match mexico when they went to a 5 man midfield and had tons of time and space. I am not questioning his faith or our belief in jesus just a more concrete analysis.

Took the words right out of my mouth big man. He couldn't get away with this anywhere else. So far he hasn't addressed the points you have made and he gets a bligh from Jamaicans because of 1998. Incredible.

[JaMekAn]

De man is ah "CON ARTIST!" plain and simple!!

[Zeppo]

JESUS SAVES !!

[Brush]

"God help those who help themselves". Simoes picked a squad that he felt could have gotten the job done despite the fact that several more established players were available(well at least on paper).

Walk good coach and you'll always have a special place in the hearts of all if not most Jamaicans.

[Lloyd]

MORE OF YOU, LESS OF ME

16 September 2008

Dear Jamaicans,
In this moment of good-byes, I believe it is very important that we make and understand a detailed, humble and sincere analysis of the situation. This has always been my attitude in my personal and professional life; of never accepting wins and losses, success or failure without an analysis and final conclusion.

In 1997, in a radio show, Simon Crosskill asked why we had qualified for the World Cup, and my answer was immediate: Because God had been in command at all times. Surprised, Simon stated: “Fine, this means then, that God wasn’t in Costa Rica or El Salvador or Canada.”

Of course God was there, He just wasn’t in charge of the programme. All honour and all glory would not have been given onto Him if those teams had qualified. But in our case, it was. We had handed all the power over to God, we prayed, and we trusted that He would be the difference. After all, He doesn’t always choose those who are the most qualified, but He gives more strength and qualifications to the chosen ones.

I left Jamaica as a hero, and being able to state that He is king and He is all-powerful. People believed this since we had won, and under these circumstances words gain more power and those who hear them believe.

My arrival in 2008 was hailed as the return of the messiah; even though I refuted this numerous times saying that it wouldn’t be my return, but a joint effort from everyone that would be responsible for our qualifying again. But an important fact was left out. Placing Jesus in the front and in command of the programme again would be the essential factor for success. This was never done. We never focused on talking about Him. We didn’t follow the steps we had taken in the past, creating integration with the needy, and offering time and prayer. We trusted that we, or maybe I alone, would be the great architects of our return to the top of the world.

No, please don’t think that I’m trying to get away from taking responsibility for mistakes, wrong decisions, and slapping it all on Jesus’ tab. On the contrary, I’m humbly saying that I failed where I shouldn’t have, in the most important aspect of the programme. I am the guilty party.

But, since God doesn’t let us finish anything without a lesson or without His name being exalted, once again, He is using me, breaking me, and disciplining me so I may be his faithful follower. He now wants me to keep on saying: “JESUS SAVES”, Jesus loves you and loves me also. He hates sin, but loves the sinner and is ready to forgive him. He wants you to hear from my mouth now that I am in the position of a loser, the same words you heard when I was in the position of a winner. You need to know that for Him, we are more than winners (conquerors), when we follow Him.

I could try now, to give a series of excuses and explanations for you to look at me differently and not loose the admiration you had for me. But, that would be conceit, and like running after the wind. I’m not important. He is!

I’m sorry I couldn’t make you happy again, but I hope you understand that, like you, I also make mistakes, and I have to learn that life is an eternal learning ground.

Jamaica will always remain my adopted second home, you will always be my dear brothers and sisters, I will always be ready to defend you and talk about the abundant love I received from you. You are strong and have great potential. Together you are almost unbeatable.

May Jesus in His infinite love and mercy continue to bless this country.

René Simões

His arogance has no boundary! I wonder if he was paid to sell out Jamaica??

[Dunny]

Mi lose offa Simoes,i have lost all respect for him as a coach.he as just undone all the good he done in 98 by sobataging our world cup campaign.

[Sensi]

Him vex cause him no receive no blessing.

[Warlord]

De man is ah "CON ARTIST!" plain and simple!!

Thats why Trini dem did fire him after 1 year. He did the same thing with the trini media. Write nuff letter to the people but them neva fall for it. Its a wonder how him trick people like Assasin, ReggaeFan and others.

[No Mercy]

Thank you very much Sir and you deserve a statue in your honour for the revitalization of our football program. Sometimes even me forget that you are human and there will be mistakes made but I am sure you have change the life of Evan Taylor and brian Woodbine even if they themselves is no aware at this time . I hope you can get these few players into your team in Brazil and God continued blessing on yu and your family. Say hi to Casagrande for me in brazil.

[Peter R]

Trinidad did not fire Simoes..he resigned after working for six months or so with no pay...even a man of God needs money to eat a food.

The fact that he continued as long as he did while the TTFF and the Govt. were playing politics says a lot about his character...

[Warlord]

[quote=Peter R;131124]

Trinidad did not fire Simoes..he resigned after working for six months or so with no pay...even a man of God needs money to eat a food.

Simoes didnt get paid for 6 months in the first instance but he was eventually let go by their federation. Their football was in transition at that time when they mathematically eliminated from Japan/Korea '02

It was the similar circumstances with the recent Dutch coach who was hired after Beenhakker left only to be replaced a year on after Gold Cup '07 by the Colombian.

The fact that he continued as long as he did while the TTFF and the Govt. were playing politics says a lot about his character.

Sure it says alot about his character but he also did the same things he's done in Jamaica in terms of writing all these public letters in the media tryna drum up support and plead on peoples spiritual side. That is just what people like Swaggart have done in the past.

[Gamma]

in all of this conning...don't lose sight of the fact that he conned us to france '98....our first and (to date) our only trip to the world cup!

[Don1]

in all of this conning...don't lose sight of the fact that he conned us to france '98....our first and (to date) our only trip to the world cup!

I'd take that type of conning any day!

That was the golden age of Jamaican football... courtesy of this supposed "con man". How foolish some of us are.

So many here foolishly take Simoes' accomplishments for granted or believe Jamaica has some entitlement to reach those heights... we don't.
They also don't realize that it will take far more than a great gameday coach or tactician (Simoes was just ok.. not great) to get Jamaica to the WC.

[Brush]

I cannot believe some of the comments being posted about Simoes! It would be nice if some of these folks currently bashing Simoes could point to an era in Jamaica's football worth writing about before Simoes' arrival or departure. So the man is deeply religious, point me to a Brazilian who is not!

I wonder what Jamaica would be like if we had a few politicians who were "con men" in the mold of Simoes?

[Twan]

I'd take that type of conning any day!


So many here foolishly take Simoes' accomplishments for granted or believe Jamaica has some entitlement to reach those heights... we don't.

Yuh see it !!...Making the 98 WC, all of a sudden we have a GOD given right to be there from now !! with no development plan for tha past 10 years..we "cheated" our way to France, and as typical JAMAICANS expect to the same for every WC thereafter.