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'Things will change for Wednesday'
Ainsley Walters, Star Writer
Supporters of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz cheer on their team as they battled regional giants Mexico in a crucial CONCACAF semi-final round World Cup qualifying match at the National Stadium on Saturday night. Jamaica won 1-0 to remain in contention for a place in next year's final round. - Ian Allen
THEODORE WHITMORE made it clear he was in charge, and not any unseen hand from within the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), following the Reggae Boyz's 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Mexico Saturday night.
Ushered in as interim coach by JFF President Horace Burrell for the second time within a year, Whitmore maintained his perfect record, three wins from three games, after Ricardo Fuller's 16th-minute strike kept Jamaica's hopes alive in Group Two of CONCACAF semi-final qualifying.
Inexperienced players
"Every coach is different," he said. "Simoes is Simoes. Tomorrow, John Barnes is John Barnes. I select the players to fit my system," Whitmore added, explaining his weeding out of several inexperienced players used by Simoes in losses against Mexico and Honduras and a 1-1 draw with Canada, which had left Jamaica on one point at the bottom of Group Two qualifying with the Canadians.
Similar to last November, when the Burrell administration booted Bora Milutinovic, a hand down from previous president Crenston Boxhill, and was courting the since-fired René Simoes, Whitmore went to work Saturday with the understanding that he was a just a stand-in until John Barnes takes over.
A lot of adjustments
However, that did not stop the man known as 'Tappa', a skilful midfield hero of Jamaica's 1998 World Cup squad, from stamping his authority on what was Jamaica's second World Cup qualifying win over the Mexicans in 10 attempts.
"There were a lot of adjustments. We only had a couple of days to work with the players. We analysed how the Mexicans play so we tied midfield and played from the flanks," Whitmore added, explaining Jamaica's bold play against the same Mexicans who ran all over the Boyz in a 3-0 win in Mexico City.
"As any coach would do, I selected the best players to represent the country," he added.
However, Whitmore refused to be drawn into saying exactly how he felt while on the bench, as Simoes' assistant, and having to watch several no-name players stumble around the pitch as Jamaica's hopes of reaching the final round of qualifying disintegrated with the Brazilian's refusal to call on the country's top overseas-based stars.
"I prefer not to say anything about that," he quipped.
However, with Wednesday's game against Honduras looming, Whitmore was quick to remind overzealous fans that Jamaica have a way to go, with fingers crossed, if they're to reach the final round.
Four points
"We have players out for the next game and things will change," he said.
One thing's for sure, 'Tappa's' style won't be to have his players sit back and have Honduras do their thing while Jamaica are on four points, five behind their rivals and Mexico.
"There were areas we could have done better in," he said, in what could be an ominous warning for Honduras, who whipped Canada 3-1 Saturday night after Jamaica's upset of Mexico.
Jamaica face Honduras at the stadium on Wednesday, gunning for another home win and seven points, whereas Mexico travel to last-place Canada, seeking to be the first final-round qualifiers from the group.
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