Tweet
Barnes stamps his style
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer
Barnes
COACH John Barnes might have played all of his [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]football[/COLOR][/COLOR] in England but made it clear on Thursday night that he was not into the old English style of play, high balls, booted from one end of the field to the other, for strikers to chase.
With Jamaica leading 1-0 before running out 2-0 winners over Guadeloupe, getting goals from Oneil Thompson and Luton Shelton in the 11th and 57th minutes, respectively, the Boyz drew the ire of the sparse crowd in the National Stadium as they were content to play around the ball, looking for an opening against their defensive rivals.
Game management
Barnes, who has now guided Jamaica in three unbeaten runs to tomorrow's final against Grenada and a spot in next year's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Gold[/COLOR][/COLOR] Cup, said the Boyz were playing to his instructions, what he termed "game management", playing according to the strength and advantages of the team.
"Just to hit from back to front, we are not going to get anything out of that but Guadeloupe can because their number 11 boy is good in his chest and he can control it.
"This is not our game and we have to play to our strengths and have patience. That (the crowd booing) wasn't a concern because we were one-nil up and didn't really hurt from it. This is something that I am trying to draw out of them because I always believe in playing the same way all the time," Barnes pointed out.
There was a marked difference in Jamaica's play under Barnes as the lone wolf, [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]gallery[/COLOR][/COLOR] style, which often creep into the local game when the top England-based stars are not around, was almost non-existent, replaced by coordinated passing and possession.
Guadeloupe, who advanced from Group B of the preliminary round as [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]runners[/COLOR][/COLOR]-up to Cuba, started bright, playing a tight midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, using six-footer Mickael Antoine-Curier as a lone striker.
Make amends
Despite Guadeloupe having 10 men behind the ball, striker Dane Richards breached their tight defence in the seventh minute but his goal from the left side of the six-yard box was ruled offside by Salvadoran referee Joel Aguillar.
It did not take long for the Boyz to make amends as a second corner from the right side - an in-swinging left-footer taken by Demar Phillips - was met by unmarked Thompson at the back post.
The six-foot midfielder, turned defender by Barnes, [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]rose[/COLOR][/COLOR] high in the six-yard box to power in his header.
Surprisingly, Guadeloupe with-drew deeper into their shells after the opening goal, while Jamaica took over midfield, playing the ball around.
The half ended with Dwayne Miller replacing injured Donovan Ricketts in the 38th and the home crowd growing restless as Jamaica were content to pass the ball around, trying to pry open Guadeloupe.
At the resumption, the by now impatient crowd, wanting to see more goals or the Boyz playing to the gallery, even started booing back-passes.
Barnes said this did not bother him one bit.
"The fans started booing a bit when we were one-nil up and when we started keeping the ball. When we are one-nil up, we have to be patient because, eventually, as you saw in the second half, they will have to come out and when they came out, you saw that we pick them out with two or three passes.
"You saw that Luton (Shelton) went through to score and Dane (Richards) went through one or two times," Barnes pointed out.
Proven right
Barnes was proven right in the 57th when Shelton outpaced his marker, Cedrc Avinel, sprinting into the box on a long pass sent down the middle of the pitch by Thompson.
The speedy striker paced himself well against the slower Avinel, drifted just wide of the advancing 'keeper and slotted around him from inside the box. "Our strength is not hitting long balls up to them because Luton is not big and strong to get down the ball on his chest, neither is Dane nor Andy (Williams). If we can progress forward and play a through ball to them then fine," said Barnes, who now faces his first final with the Boyz tomorrow, playing Grenada for a shot at a fourth Caribbean title and US$150,000 first prize.
Inside the caribbean cup
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaican players celebrate one of the two goals scored against Guadeloupe in their Digicel Caribbean Cup [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]semi-final[/COLOR][/COLOR]
on Thursday night. The hosts won 2-0 to advance to tomorrow's final. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
VERY FEW people, probably even some among their group, thought Anthony Modeste and his band of Grenadian 'ballers could have made it to the Digicel Caribbean Championship final eight, let alone play in the tournament decider.
The tiny east Caribbean nation shocked regional powerhouses Trinidad and Tobago, the lone Caribbean country remaining in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, 2-1 dispatched Barbados 4-2, then eliminated highly-rated Cuba on penalties in Thursday's semi-final, to set up a showdown with hosts Jamaica.
Even Antigua and Barbuda, one-time fodder for the mighty, left their mark by drawing with semi-finalists Guadeloupe and last year's champion team, Haiti.
If anything, their advancement is a measure of the growth of the sport in the region, reflecting how much the one-time minnows have finally come of age. The sentiments have been mentioned from an interesting corner, that of Jamaica, who may be resting rather confidently, or uncomfortably, ahead of their impending showdown against opponents they already blasted 4-0, but have nothing to lose.
As one of four regional teams to have qualified for the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Finals, and with a battery of players who compete in big leagues, Jamaica were very deflated coming into this Digicel Championship because of World Cup elimination.
All-round improvements
Grenada players celebrate their [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]semi-final[/COLOR][/COLOR] victory over Cuba on Thursday night at the National Stadium. Grenada's victory showed a growing parity in football in the region. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
However, John Barnes, who officially began holding the reins in competition as Reggae Boyz head coach in this series, notes all-round improvements at this level and noted it is dangerous to view this campaign as a letdown.
"You have to play every time you are called upon. You have to perform when you are called upon and it would have been fantastic if we were called upon to perform in the World Cup qualifiers but we are not, so the next test is the Caribbean Championship," Barnes pointed out at team-training this week.
"So, therefore, you cannot pick and choose when you perform. Are we now supposed to feel that this is beneath us and this is a lesser competition? No. Because for us to get the consistency, we need to progress in future [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] qualifications and matches we have to approach every match the same way, have the same attitude, the same desire, whether it's a World Cup qualifying match or a Digicel match against Barbados or Grenada," he said.
"I've been pleased with the way the players have responded because they have shown the same desire and will in those matches as they did against Canada, Honduras and Mexico (in World Cup qualifying). The next thing is to try and win the Digicel Cup. Getting to the semi-finals means qualifying for the Gold Cup but we can't rest on our laurels and be happy with that. We have to try and win the competition," he said.
Tyrone Marshall, the Jamaica captain, also noted the strides made by smaller Caribbean teams over the years.
"I think it's come a long way. Looking in the stands, you see coaches from the MLS (Major League Soccer) and all over. Scouts are coming down because they know we have talent in the Caribbean, so it's definitely come of age," Marshall said.
"We have improved leaps and bounds from where we are coming from," Marshall stated. "There's definitely talent here in the Caribbean and talent in this competition and I know guys are going to be signing contracts after this.
Public education
"We just have to make sure that we go out and take care of our business in the play-offs."
Barnes, who was born here and went to St George's College until he migrated to England in his teen years, has spent a fair bit of time trying to get his players to understand that.
Call it public education but he is equally fervent in the belief that the people of the country need to wake up to the reality of the Caribbean's football transition, so that they won't pressure the team unnecessarily.
"Caribbean football is much more competitive than it ever has been and the quicker we recognise that the quicker we can move forward, the quicker the bigger teams can move forward because the more we disenfranchise the Barbados team and the Antigua team and the Guadeloupe team, the more that we feel we should be beating them and we don't, as Trinidad and Haiti haven't, the more it's all doom and gloom in those countries," reasoned Barnes.
"But, if we recognise that these teams can be competitive and we respect them and feel that yes, we may be better than them, but we have to approach them in the right manner, not just from a playing point of view, but from the country's point of view.
"We have to recognise that all the matches here are difficult, pay respect to the other countries and then we can support the players, even in times when we have only beaten Barbados 2-1, rather than think 'we should have beaten them six'.
"Then we get behind them and say it's a difficult match, we showed the right character to come back and win a difficult match. So, let's stay with them rather than coming down too hard on them because they didn't beat Barbados 6-0."
Typical case in point was Thursday night's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]semi-final[/COLOR][/COLOR] against Guadeloupe when Jamaica took an early lead through Oneil Thompson's 11th-minute header and played a high-possession game as the opponents played nine men behind the ball and sat back deep in defence.
The crowd got restless and started booing, even as Jamaica were comfortably controlling the game from an advantageous position which didn't require taking risks.
"The fans started booing a bit when we were 1-0 up and keeping the ball. We have to be patient when we are 1-0 up," stressed Barnes, who won two English Premier League titles at Liverpool.
"The only difference between this game (Guadeloupe) and the Barbados game is Barbados played the same way, but we went 1-0 down against Barbados which made it difficult for us.
"The management of the game against Barbados was that we were 1-0 down so we couldn't keep the ball at the back, we had to do something different."
Contrasting strategy
For the Guadeloupe encounter though, Barnes pointed to the contrasting strategy that was required.
"If we had to keep the ball for the next 45 minutes in the second half and not go forward and win 1-0, I'd have been happy.
"When we are 1-0 up we have to be patient because eventually, as you saw in the second half, they then had to come out and when they came out we picked them off with two or three passes where Luton (Shelton) went through to score, Dane (Richards) went through one or two times, so we have to be patient."
Jamaica won the Barbados game 2-1 and eventually downed Guadeloupe 2-0. Barnes, pointing to his small-framed front-men, stated the advantages of coordinating grounded build-ups using relatively short passes rather than hitting the balls long and high.
"Our strength is not hitting long passes up to them because Luton (Shelton) is not big or strong to take them on his chest and neither is Dane nor Andy (Williams). We got frustrated and started hitting the balls long and giving it away and that's what I mean by game management," he said. Besides understanding, more than anything else, it is the composure of his players in managing such game situations that will ultimately dictate Jamaica's success in putting away a Grenada team and shows just how much Caribbean football has come of age.
National support disappoints JFF
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer
Horace Reid - File
THOUSANDS UPON thousands of fans packed the National Stadium to watch Jamaica's last three World Cup qualifiers against Honduras, Mexico and Canada.
The huge crowds moved the Jamaica [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Football[/COLOR][/COLOR] Federation (JFF) to install temporary Red Stripe stands on the cycle track to accommodate spectators and, yet still, some fans were turned away because there was still no space to accommodate them.
In stark contrast, the stadium was a comparative ghost town for the Reggae Boyz opening match of the Digicel Cup Caribbean against Barbados last week and also the semi-final game against Guadeloupe on Thursday.
Horace Reid, general secretary of the JFF, was less than impressed by the turnouts.
"We at the JFF are not happy with the level of turnout because we were expecting that a lot more fans would be watching these games," said Reid. "However, I must commend the people of western Jamaica, Montego Bay in particular, for the tremendous support that they gave us at the game against Grenada," he said.
Important [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR]
Reid noted that the Digicel Cup is an extremely important [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR] because it is the "Caribbean's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]".
The four semi-finalists in the Digicel Cup [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR] will secure a place in next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be held in July in the United States.
"Winning this tournament will significantly enhance our rankings of the FIFA list. It will also restore our recently bruised reputation in the international football community. It will also reinspire confidence among our players and coaches, both locally and internationally," said Reid.
He said because of the team's failure to advance to the final round of the World Cup, the JFF lost millions of dollars.
"We will need help from the Government during this period because this is such an important endeavour for thousand of players, coaches and administrators, who have directly, and indirectly, been able to provide for their families through football," he said.
For Shawnette Pike, who made the journey from Harbour View, to watch the semi-final against Guadeloupe, it was just another day at 'The Office' for her.
"Football is life and I love the sport. I would always support the Jamaican team. That's one of the main reasons why I am here tonight," said Pike, who describes herself as a big supporter of Premier League outfit Harbour View.
"I am very disappointed that we didn't qualify for the World Cup but we have to continue to support our country because sports, in general, brings people together and this is also one of the reasons why I am here tonight," she said. "This Digicel Cup is not really important to me but, as a true lover of the game, this match could not have missed me."
Hardened football fan
Latus McLaren, who journeyed from St Catherine, said: "I have to be here today because I am a hardened football fan. I am a supporter and lover of the game and a man who used to play the game. I have to be here.
"This Digicel Cup is very important for us because it will help us to improve our FIFA rankings and it will help our younger players, who wish to ply their trade abroad to get a work permit," he said. "I think if we had gone through to the final round of World Cup qualifiers the stadium would have been full for these Digicel Cup matches."
Another female fan, who did not wish to give her name, said she was mainly there for ambience.
"I just happen to be here because someone at my workplace gave me a free ticket and so I decided to come to the match," she said. "I really don't know anything about football but these players are representing our country and that also helped to prompt me to be here."
Marshall impressed
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaica's Tyrone Marshall (centre) celebrates scoring in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on March 26 at the National Stadium. - File
EXPERIENCED JAMAICA defender Tyrone Marshall is impressed with the standard of play in the Digicel Caribbean Championship, which comes to an end tomorrow with the Reggae Boyz facing [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Grenada[/COLOR][/COLOR] in the final at the National Stadium.
Marshall who made his debut for Jamaica in 2000 and now plays professionally for Toronto Football Club in the North American Major League Soccer (MLS), said he has seen a marked improvement in the passing and general use of the ball.
"In the past, in Caribbean competition, the better teams were the ones putting the ball on the ground and knocking it around trying to create things. Now, everybody is trying to play the ball and doing their thing with some type of purpose," Marshall said.
The 34-year-old Marshall, who attended Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory and St. George's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]College[/COLOR][/COLOR] before migrating to the US in the 1980s, says there are no longer any real weak teams in the Caribbean competition.
"Some people think certain teams are weak, but at the same time, Grenada were not supposed to beat Trinidad and Tobago and they did so. Trinidad, one of the better teams, are now out of the competition. Everybody has to play well and that shows the level is definitely higher than what people expect," he said.
Good for development
Marshall, who has also played for [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Colorado[/COLOR][/COLOR] Rapids, Miami Fusion and LA Galaxy in the MLS, thinks the Digicel Caribbean Championship is especially good for the development of young players.
"This tournament gives them some exposure on the international stage. They get the awareness that when you play in an international tournament this is what you are going to encounter. You have to use them (regional tournaments) as a measuring stick for where you are and what you can do as a player. So, when you are called upon to [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]play [COLOR=orange! important]games[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] in front of a bigger audience, you are ready to rise to the occasion."
The Cubans are now out of contention for top spot in the tournament and will be seeking third place tomorrow but they have impressed Marshall with their sense of purpose.
"I have watched the Cubans. They are very good, very calm. Obviously, they have a [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]system[/COLOR][/COLOR] that they play with, no matter what the situation. If they are down one or up two, whatever it may be, they still play their system ... play to whatever their strategy is. This is very impressive because normally when teams are down one, or up two, they tend to change their type of play," said Marshall.
Looking ahead, Marshall says the CONCACAF Gold Cup next summer will be very important for the Reggae Boyz.
"We have failed to reach the final stages of World Cup qualifying, so there is an extra motivation for us to go out there and have a good showing so that we can improve our standing in the region. It's the big competition in the region where we will be playing the stronger teams such as the US, Mexico and Costa Rica."
According to Marshall, playing well in the Gold Cup will also help to lift Jamaica's current FIFA ranking. The Reggae Boyz are currently ranked 83. This puts them below Cuba (73) and Trinidad and Tobago (78), two teams which are already out of contention for the Caribbean title.
"People have said (in the past) that rankings are not important but we now know it is important as it helps to decide whether local players, or those already playing overseas, renew or get new contracts."
Unsure
The national midfielder, who has already said the recent World Cup qualifying campaign was his last, is unsure how much longer he will wear national colours but hopes he has been a role model for the younger players. He will continue to play as long as he can give '110 per cent' to the team.
"For me, if I am not 110 per cent committed, I do not want to play as you are cheating yourself, you are cheating your teammates and, most importantly, you are cheating your country.
"For me, there are other players who are coming up in the ranks and I am hoping that they can look at my standards and that of other veteran players and step in now and start to take the reins. ... I am not going to be the one who is going to play forever and having the football push me away with people saying this guy is washed up and needs to stop playing now. I will leave on my own terms and, once everything is safe, I will definitely step away." When he steps away from the game Marshall, who has 70 caps, will have lots of time for his hobbies such as listening to music, playing basketball and "enjoying a good book to keep the mind active".
Gaynor pleased with Digicel Cup performance
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Adrian Frater, News Editor
GAYNOR
WESTERN BUREAU:
JAMAICA [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]FOOTBALL[/COLOR][/COLOR] Federation (JFF) vice-president Bruce Gaynor, who spearheaded the organising of the western leg of the Digicel Caribbean Cup football championships, has expressed extreme satisfaction with the way things went.
"I believe we passed the test with flying colours as there were absolutely no hitches in terms of us doing what we had to do," said Gaynor, who is also general secretary of the St James Football Association. "If there is one area in which we probably could have done better it would have to be in the area of advertising," he said.
After announcing that western Jamaica would be given the opportunity to host preliminary games in the Digicel Cup, JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell intimated giving feature games to the west would be dependent on the level of support the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR] attracted.
"If the fans in the west don't come out and support the games, it would make no sense staging games in the west," Captain Burrell stated at the time.
Call for consistency
Teofore Bennett
While noting that taking international games to western Jamaica was a good idea, Craig Oates, vice-chairman of the JFF's western confederation, said it needs to be done on a consistent basis.
"It is a good idea and I am sure all football lovers in the region would agree with me," said Oates. "It is a pity it came at a time when our football is not doing so well in terms of our failure to qualify for the 2010 [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]," he said.
Everton Tomlinson, president of the Westmoreland Football Association, was thrilled that western Jamaica had been selected to host international games and hopes this venture will signal the beginning of a new era in the west staging major [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournaments[/COLOR][/COLOR].
"It was an excellent idea and the JFF should be congratulated and encouraged to have more games outside of Kingston," said Tomlinson. "What happened was very good for the image of western Jamaica's football and I endorse it 100 per cent," he said.
However, for future [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournaments[/COLOR][/COLOR], Tomlinson is hoping more extensive advertising will be done to sensitise the public and attract greater support.
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer
Barnes
COACH John Barnes might have played all of his [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]football[/COLOR][/COLOR] in England but made it clear on Thursday night that he was not into the old English style of play, high balls, booted from one end of the field to the other, for strikers to chase.
With Jamaica leading 1-0 before running out 2-0 winners over Guadeloupe, getting goals from Oneil Thompson and Luton Shelton in the 11th and 57th minutes, respectively, the Boyz drew the ire of the sparse crowd in the National Stadium as they were content to play around the ball, looking for an opening against their defensive rivals.
Game management
Barnes, who has now guided Jamaica in three unbeaten runs to tomorrow's final against Grenada and a spot in next year's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Gold[/COLOR][/COLOR] Cup, said the Boyz were playing to his instructions, what he termed "game management", playing according to the strength and advantages of the team.
"Just to hit from back to front, we are not going to get anything out of that but Guadeloupe can because their number 11 boy is good in his chest and he can control it.
"This is not our game and we have to play to our strengths and have patience. That (the crowd booing) wasn't a concern because we were one-nil up and didn't really hurt from it. This is something that I am trying to draw out of them because I always believe in playing the same way all the time," Barnes pointed out.
There was a marked difference in Jamaica's play under Barnes as the lone wolf, [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]gallery[/COLOR][/COLOR] style, which often creep into the local game when the top England-based stars are not around, was almost non-existent, replaced by coordinated passing and possession.
Guadeloupe, who advanced from Group B of the preliminary round as [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]runners[/COLOR][/COLOR]-up to Cuba, started bright, playing a tight midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, using six-footer Mickael Antoine-Curier as a lone striker.
Make amends
Despite Guadeloupe having 10 men behind the ball, striker Dane Richards breached their tight defence in the seventh minute but his goal from the left side of the six-yard box was ruled offside by Salvadoran referee Joel Aguillar.
It did not take long for the Boyz to make amends as a second corner from the right side - an in-swinging left-footer taken by Demar Phillips - was met by unmarked Thompson at the back post.
The six-foot midfielder, turned defender by Barnes, [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]rose[/COLOR][/COLOR] high in the six-yard box to power in his header.
Surprisingly, Guadeloupe with-drew deeper into their shells after the opening goal, while Jamaica took over midfield, playing the ball around.
The half ended with Dwayne Miller replacing injured Donovan Ricketts in the 38th and the home crowd growing restless as Jamaica were content to pass the ball around, trying to pry open Guadeloupe.
At the resumption, the by now impatient crowd, wanting to see more goals or the Boyz playing to the gallery, even started booing back-passes.
Barnes said this did not bother him one bit.
"The fans started booing a bit when we were one-nil up and when we started keeping the ball. When we are one-nil up, we have to be patient because, eventually, as you saw in the second half, they will have to come out and when they came out, you saw that we pick them out with two or three passes.
"You saw that Luton (Shelton) went through to score and Dane (Richards) went through one or two times," Barnes pointed out.
Proven right
Barnes was proven right in the 57th when Shelton outpaced his marker, Cedrc Avinel, sprinting into the box on a long pass sent down the middle of the pitch by Thompson.
The speedy striker paced himself well against the slower Avinel, drifted just wide of the advancing 'keeper and slotted around him from inside the box. "Our strength is not hitting long balls up to them because Luton is not big and strong to get down the ball on his chest, neither is Dane nor Andy (Williams). If we can progress forward and play a through ball to them then fine," said Barnes, who now faces his first final with the Boyz tomorrow, playing Grenada for a shot at a fourth Caribbean title and US$150,000 first prize.
Inside the caribbean cup
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaican players celebrate one of the two goals scored against Guadeloupe in their Digicel Caribbean Cup [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]semi-final[/COLOR][/COLOR]
on Thursday night. The hosts won 2-0 to advance to tomorrow's final. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
VERY FEW people, probably even some among their group, thought Anthony Modeste and his band of Grenadian 'ballers could have made it to the Digicel Caribbean Championship final eight, let alone play in the tournament decider.
The tiny east Caribbean nation shocked regional powerhouses Trinidad and Tobago, the lone Caribbean country remaining in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, 2-1 dispatched Barbados 4-2, then eliminated highly-rated Cuba on penalties in Thursday's semi-final, to set up a showdown with hosts Jamaica.
Even Antigua and Barbuda, one-time fodder for the mighty, left their mark by drawing with semi-finalists Guadeloupe and last year's champion team, Haiti.
If anything, their advancement is a measure of the growth of the sport in the region, reflecting how much the one-time minnows have finally come of age. The sentiments have been mentioned from an interesting corner, that of Jamaica, who may be resting rather confidently, or uncomfortably, ahead of their impending showdown against opponents they already blasted 4-0, but have nothing to lose.
As one of four regional teams to have qualified for the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] Finals, and with a battery of players who compete in big leagues, Jamaica were very deflated coming into this Digicel Championship because of World Cup elimination.
All-round improvements
Grenada players celebrate their [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]semi-final[/COLOR][/COLOR] victory over Cuba on Thursday night at the National Stadium. Grenada's victory showed a growing parity in football in the region. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
However, John Barnes, who officially began holding the reins in competition as Reggae Boyz head coach in this series, notes all-round improvements at this level and noted it is dangerous to view this campaign as a letdown.
"You have to play every time you are called upon. You have to perform when you are called upon and it would have been fantastic if we were called upon to perform in the World Cup qualifiers but we are not, so the next test is the Caribbean Championship," Barnes pointed out at team-training this week.
"So, therefore, you cannot pick and choose when you perform. Are we now supposed to feel that this is beneath us and this is a lesser competition? No. Because for us to get the consistency, we need to progress in future [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] qualifications and matches we have to approach every match the same way, have the same attitude, the same desire, whether it's a World Cup qualifying match or a Digicel match against Barbados or Grenada," he said.
"I've been pleased with the way the players have responded because they have shown the same desire and will in those matches as they did against Canada, Honduras and Mexico (in World Cup qualifying). The next thing is to try and win the Digicel Cup. Getting to the semi-finals means qualifying for the Gold Cup but we can't rest on our laurels and be happy with that. We have to try and win the competition," he said.
Tyrone Marshall, the Jamaica captain, also noted the strides made by smaller Caribbean teams over the years.
"I think it's come a long way. Looking in the stands, you see coaches from the MLS (Major League Soccer) and all over. Scouts are coming down because they know we have talent in the Caribbean, so it's definitely come of age," Marshall said.
"We have improved leaps and bounds from where we are coming from," Marshall stated. "There's definitely talent here in the Caribbean and talent in this competition and I know guys are going to be signing contracts after this.
Public education
"We just have to make sure that we go out and take care of our business in the play-offs."
Barnes, who was born here and went to St George's College until he migrated to England in his teen years, has spent a fair bit of time trying to get his players to understand that.
Call it public education but he is equally fervent in the belief that the people of the country need to wake up to the reality of the Caribbean's football transition, so that they won't pressure the team unnecessarily.
"Caribbean football is much more competitive than it ever has been and the quicker we recognise that the quicker we can move forward, the quicker the bigger teams can move forward because the more we disenfranchise the Barbados team and the Antigua team and the Guadeloupe team, the more that we feel we should be beating them and we don't, as Trinidad and Haiti haven't, the more it's all doom and gloom in those countries," reasoned Barnes.
"But, if we recognise that these teams can be competitive and we respect them and feel that yes, we may be better than them, but we have to approach them in the right manner, not just from a playing point of view, but from the country's point of view.
"We have to recognise that all the matches here are difficult, pay respect to the other countries and then we can support the players, even in times when we have only beaten Barbados 2-1, rather than think 'we should have beaten them six'.
"Then we get behind them and say it's a difficult match, we showed the right character to come back and win a difficult match. So, let's stay with them rather than coming down too hard on them because they didn't beat Barbados 6-0."
Typical case in point was Thursday night's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]semi-final[/COLOR][/COLOR] against Guadeloupe when Jamaica took an early lead through Oneil Thompson's 11th-minute header and played a high-possession game as the opponents played nine men behind the ball and sat back deep in defence.
The crowd got restless and started booing, even as Jamaica were comfortably controlling the game from an advantageous position which didn't require taking risks.
"The fans started booing a bit when we were 1-0 up and keeping the ball. We have to be patient when we are 1-0 up," stressed Barnes, who won two English Premier League titles at Liverpool.
"The only difference between this game (Guadeloupe) and the Barbados game is Barbados played the same way, but we went 1-0 down against Barbados which made it difficult for us.
"The management of the game against Barbados was that we were 1-0 down so we couldn't keep the ball at the back, we had to do something different."
Contrasting strategy
For the Guadeloupe encounter though, Barnes pointed to the contrasting strategy that was required.
"If we had to keep the ball for the next 45 minutes in the second half and not go forward and win 1-0, I'd have been happy.
"When we are 1-0 up we have to be patient because eventually, as you saw in the second half, they then had to come out and when they came out we picked them off with two or three passes where Luton (Shelton) went through to score, Dane (Richards) went through one or two times, so we have to be patient."
Jamaica won the Barbados game 2-1 and eventually downed Guadeloupe 2-0. Barnes, pointing to his small-framed front-men, stated the advantages of coordinating grounded build-ups using relatively short passes rather than hitting the balls long and high.
"Our strength is not hitting long passes up to them because Luton (Shelton) is not big or strong to take them on his chest and neither is Dane nor Andy (Williams). We got frustrated and started hitting the balls long and giving it away and that's what I mean by game management," he said. Besides understanding, more than anything else, it is the composure of his players in managing such game situations that will ultimately dictate Jamaica's success in putting away a Grenada team and shows just how much Caribbean football has come of age.
National support disappoints JFF
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer
Horace Reid - File
THOUSANDS UPON thousands of fans packed the National Stadium to watch Jamaica's last three World Cup qualifiers against Honduras, Mexico and Canada.
The huge crowds moved the Jamaica [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Football[/COLOR][/COLOR] Federation (JFF) to install temporary Red Stripe stands on the cycle track to accommodate spectators and, yet still, some fans were turned away because there was still no space to accommodate them.
In stark contrast, the stadium was a comparative ghost town for the Reggae Boyz opening match of the Digicel Cup Caribbean against Barbados last week and also the semi-final game against Guadeloupe on Thursday.
Horace Reid, general secretary of the JFF, was less than impressed by the turnouts.
"We at the JFF are not happy with the level of turnout because we were expecting that a lot more fans would be watching these games," said Reid. "However, I must commend the people of western Jamaica, Montego Bay in particular, for the tremendous support that they gave us at the game against Grenada," he said.
Important [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR]
Reid noted that the Digicel Cup is an extremely important [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR] because it is the "Caribbean's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]".
The four semi-finalists in the Digicel Cup [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR] will secure a place in next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be held in July in the United States.
"Winning this tournament will significantly enhance our rankings of the FIFA list. It will also restore our recently bruised reputation in the international football community. It will also reinspire confidence among our players and coaches, both locally and internationally," said Reid.
He said because of the team's failure to advance to the final round of the World Cup, the JFF lost millions of dollars.
"We will need help from the Government during this period because this is such an important endeavour for thousand of players, coaches and administrators, who have directly, and indirectly, been able to provide for their families through football," he said.
For Shawnette Pike, who made the journey from Harbour View, to watch the semi-final against Guadeloupe, it was just another day at 'The Office' for her.
"Football is life and I love the sport. I would always support the Jamaican team. That's one of the main reasons why I am here tonight," said Pike, who describes herself as a big supporter of Premier League outfit Harbour View.
"I am very disappointed that we didn't qualify for the World Cup but we have to continue to support our country because sports, in general, brings people together and this is also one of the reasons why I am here tonight," she said. "This Digicel Cup is not really important to me but, as a true lover of the game, this match could not have missed me."
Hardened football fan
Latus McLaren, who journeyed from St Catherine, said: "I have to be here today because I am a hardened football fan. I am a supporter and lover of the game and a man who used to play the game. I have to be here.
"This Digicel Cup is very important for us because it will help us to improve our FIFA rankings and it will help our younger players, who wish to ply their trade abroad to get a work permit," he said. "I think if we had gone through to the final round of World Cup qualifiers the stadium would have been full for these Digicel Cup matches."
Another female fan, who did not wish to give her name, said she was mainly there for ambience.
"I just happen to be here because someone at my workplace gave me a free ticket and so I decided to come to the match," she said. "I really don't know anything about football but these players are representing our country and that also helped to prompt me to be here."
Marshall impressed
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Jamaica's Tyrone Marshall (centre) celebrates scoring in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on March 26 at the National Stadium. - File
EXPERIENCED JAMAICA defender Tyrone Marshall is impressed with the standard of play in the Digicel Caribbean Championship, which comes to an end tomorrow with the Reggae Boyz facing [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Grenada[/COLOR][/COLOR] in the final at the National Stadium.
Marshall who made his debut for Jamaica in 2000 and now plays professionally for Toronto Football Club in the North American Major League Soccer (MLS), said he has seen a marked improvement in the passing and general use of the ball.
"In the past, in Caribbean competition, the better teams were the ones putting the ball on the ground and knocking it around trying to create things. Now, everybody is trying to play the ball and doing their thing with some type of purpose," Marshall said.
The 34-year-old Marshall, who attended Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory and St. George's [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]College[/COLOR][/COLOR] before migrating to the US in the 1980s, says there are no longer any real weak teams in the Caribbean competition.
"Some people think certain teams are weak, but at the same time, Grenada were not supposed to beat Trinidad and Tobago and they did so. Trinidad, one of the better teams, are now out of the competition. Everybody has to play well and that shows the level is definitely higher than what people expect," he said.
Good for development
Marshall, who has also played for [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Colorado[/COLOR][/COLOR] Rapids, Miami Fusion and LA Galaxy in the MLS, thinks the Digicel Caribbean Championship is especially good for the development of young players.
"This tournament gives them some exposure on the international stage. They get the awareness that when you play in an international tournament this is what you are going to encounter. You have to use them (regional tournaments) as a measuring stick for where you are and what you can do as a player. So, when you are called upon to [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]play [COLOR=orange! important]games[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] in front of a bigger audience, you are ready to rise to the occasion."
The Cubans are now out of contention for top spot in the tournament and will be seeking third place tomorrow but they have impressed Marshall with their sense of purpose.
"I have watched the Cubans. They are very good, very calm. Obviously, they have a [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]system[/COLOR][/COLOR] that they play with, no matter what the situation. If they are down one or up two, whatever it may be, they still play their system ... play to whatever their strategy is. This is very impressive because normally when teams are down one, or up two, they tend to change their type of play," said Marshall.
Looking ahead, Marshall says the CONCACAF Gold Cup next summer will be very important for the Reggae Boyz.
"We have failed to reach the final stages of World Cup qualifying, so there is an extra motivation for us to go out there and have a good showing so that we can improve our standing in the region. It's the big competition in the region where we will be playing the stronger teams such as the US, Mexico and Costa Rica."
According to Marshall, playing well in the Gold Cup will also help to lift Jamaica's current FIFA ranking. The Reggae Boyz are currently ranked 83. This puts them below Cuba (73) and Trinidad and Tobago (78), two teams which are already out of contention for the Caribbean title.
"People have said (in the past) that rankings are not important but we now know it is important as it helps to decide whether local players, or those already playing overseas, renew or get new contracts."
Unsure
The national midfielder, who has already said the recent World Cup qualifying campaign was his last, is unsure how much longer he will wear national colours but hopes he has been a role model for the younger players. He will continue to play as long as he can give '110 per cent' to the team.
"For me, if I am not 110 per cent committed, I do not want to play as you are cheating yourself, you are cheating your teammates and, most importantly, you are cheating your country.
"For me, there are other players who are coming up in the ranks and I am hoping that they can look at my standards and that of other veteran players and step in now and start to take the reins. ... I am not going to be the one who is going to play forever and having the football push me away with people saying this guy is washed up and needs to stop playing now. I will leave on my own terms and, once everything is safe, I will definitely step away." When he steps away from the game Marshall, who has 70 caps, will have lots of time for his hobbies such as listening to music, playing basketball and "enjoying a good book to keep the mind active".
Gaynor pleased with Digicel Cup performance
Published: Saturday | December 13, 2008
Adrian Frater, News Editor
GAYNOR
WESTERN BUREAU:
JAMAICA [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]FOOTBALL[/COLOR][/COLOR] Federation (JFF) vice-president Bruce Gaynor, who spearheaded the organising of the western leg of the Digicel Caribbean Cup football championships, has expressed extreme satisfaction with the way things went.
"I believe we passed the test with flying colours as there were absolutely no hitches in terms of us doing what we had to do," said Gaynor, who is also general secretary of the St James Football Association. "If there is one area in which we probably could have done better it would have to be in the area of advertising," he said.
After announcing that western Jamaica would be given the opportunity to host preliminary games in the Digicel Cup, JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell intimated giving feature games to the west would be dependent on the level of support the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournament[/COLOR][/COLOR] attracted.
"If the fans in the west don't come out and support the games, it would make no sense staging games in the west," Captain Burrell stated at the time.
Call for consistency
Teofore Bennett
While noting that taking international games to western Jamaica was a good idea, Craig Oates, vice-chairman of the JFF's western confederation, said it needs to be done on a consistent basis.
"It is a good idea and I am sure all football lovers in the region would agree with me," said Oates. "It is a pity it came at a time when our football is not doing so well in terms of our failure to qualify for the 2010 [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]World [COLOR=orange! important]Cup[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]," he said.
Everton Tomlinson, president of the Westmoreland Football Association, was thrilled that western Jamaica had been selected to host international games and hopes this venture will signal the beginning of a new era in the west staging major [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournaments[/COLOR][/COLOR].
"It was an excellent idea and the JFF should be congratulated and encouraged to have more games outside of Kingston," said Tomlinson. "What happened was very good for the image of western Jamaica's football and I endorse it 100 per cent," he said.
However, for future [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]tournaments[/COLOR][/COLOR], Tomlinson is hoping more extensive advertising will be done to sensitise the public and attract greater support.
Comment