Tweet
Whitmore denies knowingly taking injured goalies to South Africa
Sean Williams
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore fended off suggestions that his team knowingly took two injured goalkeeper here for today's friendly match against hosts South Africa.
Nursing old injuries which have been aggravated since arriving here, goalkeepers Shawn Sawyers and Dwayne Miller were both passed fit to play in the match, though they were in pain from knee/ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively.
"We always pick a squad with fit players, and if there is doubt (about a player's fitness), it makes no sense to take them," he said yesterday.
Whitmore said a clean bill of health of both players was given to him by the Jamaica Football Federation medical team before the squad departed for South Africa for the game.
"Definitely, both of them were fit and ready. Remember we had a couple of training sessions before we left Jamaica and everything was okay, even at that point in time we played a game in Clarendon and both of them were a part of that game as well," Whitmore told the Observer.
"What we had in that game (against Clarendon All-Stars) was Luton Shelton who came off injured. If there was a decision to be made (about) the goalkeepers, we would have made it then," he said.
In Miller's case, he sustained his shoulder injury in a Digicel Premier League match for his club Harbour View, but returned to action after it was said he was ordered to take rest.
"Basically a month before we came to South Africa, Dwayne Miller sustained a shoulder injury and he has been receiving treatment and the physiotherapist at his club (Harbour View) gave him 10 days off, and he retuned and kept two games for the club.
"He came here (South Africa) and got a knock on it and the injury reocurred. and our medical team has been working on it," said Whitmore.
Sawyer's knee injury is an old one, but he imported an ankle condition in training on Sunday.
"What made that situation worse is that he picked up an ankle injury yesterday (Sunday). But at this point both goalkeepers are fine and will be ready for the game," said the Montego Bay native.
The almost 15-hour transatlantic flight to get to South Africa, Whitmore claims, undoubtedly played a role in the injury scares.
"The long flight to get here has played a part in this injury business. Look at Sawyers, his problem started because he was sitting so long (on the plane) and there was not much movement," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, team masseuse, Brazilian Pablo Camargo supported Dr Mark Sanderson's diagnosis that both goalies have passed the worst and are ready for action.
"I have been working with both players and they will be okay for the game. Miller, once he's warmed up, he does not feel the pain," said Camargo.
Sean Williams
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore fended off suggestions that his team knowingly took two injured goalkeeper here for today's friendly match against hosts South Africa.
Nursing old injuries which have been aggravated since arriving here, goalkeepers Shawn Sawyers and Dwayne Miller were both passed fit to play in the match, though they were in pain from knee/ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively.
"We always pick a squad with fit players, and if there is doubt (about a player's fitness), it makes no sense to take them," he said yesterday.
Whitmore said a clean bill of health of both players was given to him by the Jamaica Football Federation medical team before the squad departed for South Africa for the game.
"Definitely, both of them were fit and ready. Remember we had a couple of training sessions before we left Jamaica and everything was okay, even at that point in time we played a game in Clarendon and both of them were a part of that game as well," Whitmore told the Observer.
"What we had in that game (against Clarendon All-Stars) was Luton Shelton who came off injured. If there was a decision to be made (about) the goalkeepers, we would have made it then," he said.
In Miller's case, he sustained his shoulder injury in a Digicel Premier League match for his club Harbour View, but returned to action after it was said he was ordered to take rest.
"Basically a month before we came to South Africa, Dwayne Miller sustained a shoulder injury and he has been receiving treatment and the physiotherapist at his club (Harbour View) gave him 10 days off, and he retuned and kept two games for the club.
"He came here (South Africa) and got a knock on it and the injury reocurred. and our medical team has been working on it," said Whitmore.
Sawyer's knee injury is an old one, but he imported an ankle condition in training on Sunday.
"What made that situation worse is that he picked up an ankle injury yesterday (Sunday). But at this point both goalkeepers are fine and will be ready for the game," said the Montego Bay native.
The almost 15-hour transatlantic flight to get to South Africa, Whitmore claims, undoubtedly played a role in the injury scares.
"The long flight to get here has played a part in this injury business. Look at Sawyers, his problem started because he was sitting so long (on the plane) and there was not much movement," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, team masseuse, Brazilian Pablo Camargo supported Dr Mark Sanderson's diagnosis that both goalies have passed the worst and are ready for action.
"I have been working with both players and they will be okay for the game. Miller, once he's warmed up, he does not feel the pain," said Camargo.
