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Burrell mum on hiring of Bora Milutinovic
published: Monday | November 20, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
Captain Horace Burrell </DIV>
MIAMI, Florida:
Former Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell has conceded that the man favoured to become the country's next technical director comes with proven credentials and deserves support, but stopped short of saying whether or not the JFF is making the right decision by seeking the services of Bora Milutinovic or if the Serb would have been his own choice.
When Burrell was asked about the likely hiring of Milutinovic by current JFF president and rival Crenston Boxhill on Saturday, the man who brought Rene Simoes to Jamaica more than a decade ago and watched the popular Brazilian guide the Reggae Boyz to a World Cup finals appearance in 1998, at first declined to make any statement at all on the matter, although he made it clear that he intended to again challenge for his former post when JFF elections become due next year.
"I would make no comment at all as it relates to the JFF's business until I get back into office," said the Captain, who was appointed commissioner in charge of the Miami round of the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup that included Jamaica's Reggae Girlz among six teams competing in the knockout tournament.
He is my friend
"But if you are asking my personal opinion on Mr. Bora, Mr. Bora is my friend," he added. "I have known Mr. Bora for several years. We have had several cordial relationships. He is someone whom I respect. He has a track record ... He is a coach who has achieved, in football terms, a high level of success in his job."
Milutinovic has coached five separate teams in World Cup finals, a feat no one else has accomplished in global football. Yet when asked if Milutinovic is a suitable candidate or would be his own choice to lead Jamaica's football programme, Burrell again distanced himself from the issue.
"I will offer no personal position as to whether or not (the JFF made the right choice)," said Burrell, who explained that he did not want to get into another round of verbal sparring with Boxhill and the JFF at this time. "I am not in the JFF now. I have nothing to do with (Milutinovic's) contractual terms and so on. So that is my position."
Respect his record
Pressed further, Burrell added: "That's not my prerogative right now. If you ask me about my views on the man Mr. Bora, I'll tell you that his record is there and I respect his record."
The JFF has announced its intention to hire Milutinovic, but has not publicly made it official that he has signed on, although the Serb appears to be already on the job. He attended last Wednesday's friendly international between Jamaica and Peru at the National Stadium and was seen recording video footage and taking notes of the match.
The Peru game was the last for interim coach, Carl Brown, who had months earlier taken over from Wendell Downswell following a disappointing series of results by the Reggae Boyz, including two lopsided mid-year losses to England and Ghana. Defending champions Jamaica, under Brown's guidance, also failed to qualify for the final round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
- G.W.
published: Monday | November 20, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
Captain Horace Burrell </DIV>
MIAMI, Florida:
Former Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell has conceded that the man favoured to become the country's next technical director comes with proven credentials and deserves support, but stopped short of saying whether or not the JFF is making the right decision by seeking the services of Bora Milutinovic or if the Serb would have been his own choice.
When Burrell was asked about the likely hiring of Milutinovic by current JFF president and rival Crenston Boxhill on Saturday, the man who brought Rene Simoes to Jamaica more than a decade ago and watched the popular Brazilian guide the Reggae Boyz to a World Cup finals appearance in 1998, at first declined to make any statement at all on the matter, although he made it clear that he intended to again challenge for his former post when JFF elections become due next year.
"I would make no comment at all as it relates to the JFF's business until I get back into office," said the Captain, who was appointed commissioner in charge of the Miami round of the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup that included Jamaica's Reggae Girlz among six teams competing in the knockout tournament.
He is my friend
"But if you are asking my personal opinion on Mr. Bora, Mr. Bora is my friend," he added. "I have known Mr. Bora for several years. We have had several cordial relationships. He is someone whom I respect. He has a track record ... He is a coach who has achieved, in football terms, a high level of success in his job."
Milutinovic has coached five separate teams in World Cup finals, a feat no one else has accomplished in global football. Yet when asked if Milutinovic is a suitable candidate or would be his own choice to lead Jamaica's football programme, Burrell again distanced himself from the issue.
"I will offer no personal position as to whether or not (the JFF made the right choice)," said Burrell, who explained that he did not want to get into another round of verbal sparring with Boxhill and the JFF at this time. "I am not in the JFF now. I have nothing to do with (Milutinovic's) contractual terms and so on. So that is my position."
Respect his record
Pressed further, Burrell added: "That's not my prerogative right now. If you ask me about my views on the man Mr. Bora, I'll tell you that his record is there and I respect his record."
The JFF has announced its intention to hire Milutinovic, but has not publicly made it official that he has signed on, although the Serb appears to be already on the job. He attended last Wednesday's friendly international between Jamaica and Peru at the National Stadium and was seen recording video footage and taking notes of the match.
The Peru game was the last for interim coach, Carl Brown, who had months earlier taken over from Wendell Downswell following a disappointing series of results by the Reggae Boyz, including two lopsided mid-year losses to England and Ghana. Defending champions Jamaica, under Brown's guidance, also failed to qualify for the final round of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
- G.W.
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