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BURRELL MOVED BY BOYZ'S GRITTY DISPLAY AGAINST ARGENTINA
BY IAN BURNETT Sport Editor
Saturday, February 13, 2010
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Having earlier charged the Reggae Boyz to compete against Argentina with pride and honour, Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), was first in the dressing room after Wednesday night's encounter to offer congratulations to his charges for a job well done.
The JFF boss had indicated to the players and the technical staff that the possibility of sealing high-level friendly games in the future was dependent on a quality performance against the number eight-ranked South Americans, one of the favourites heading into this summer's South Africa World Cup Finals.
Argentina's Juan Mercier (left) and Jamaica's Keammar Daley do battle during their friendly soccer game in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Wednesday. Argentina won 2-1. (Photos: AP)
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"First of all, I want to congratulate the team for playing with heart. In fact, it has been quite a while since I've seen this sort of performance coming from a Jamaican team, especially in the second half I thought they gave it their all. Of course there were one or two blunders which might have resulted in what transpired and we just have to learn from this," Captain Burrell offered, while awaiting the departure of the team from its dressing room shortly after the game which they lost 1-2, after shocking the hosts by holding a 1-0 lead up to the 84th minute.
"I want to definitely congratulate Ryan Johnson, he's one for the future... simple football, very disciplined. He approaches the game with professionalism and purpose and watching his behaviour on the field told me that at all times he was trying to lift the team," added the JFF head in praise of the Jamaican goal scorer, who was notching his first goal for Jamaica in only his third outing.
Added Captain Burrell: "Again I must congratulate the Boyz, they have done Jamaica proud and we will just have to continue to build on this solid platform which has been established here tonight (Wednesday) in Argentina.
"One has to remember that you are playing against Argentina, the number eighth-ranked team in the world. Argentina is Argentina and therefore playing against them in Argentina in an atmosphere that was extremely vocal and doing what they did is encouraging," said the veteran football administrator.
However, the Caribbean Football Union vice-president and CONCACAF and FIFA executive member could not help but take a jab at the Peruvian officials who appeared biased in executing their duties.
"I never comment on officiating, that's all right, I thought a number of hometown decisions went their way, but that is the game of football, but on a whole the Reggae Boyz have done what I asked them to do and that was to give a sterling performance, to play with purpose and we've seen this," noted Captain Burrell.
The referee turned down a close penalty appeal against Johnson in the first half, appeared too lenient against Argentine players for fouls on Dane Richards outside the field, Navion Boyd, Shavar Thomas who was slapped in his face and Rodolph Austin who claimed he was called a monkey by the Argentine captain.
And to top it off, the scandalous decision which the assistant referee called a pushing foul on Jermaine Taylor, who was shielding the ball going towards the corner flag in the 94th minute. The free kick led to the winning goal.
That aside, Captain Burrell thought he had seen enough to suggest that many players will be called but few would be chosen. "But what is also clear is that not all players are going to cut it at this level and one of the things which I will instruct the technical committee to do is concentrate on a group of players with purpose. Players who are serious, who are determined, who are ready to get us in the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil.
"Not all will make it and we are not going to waste time with those who demonstrate that they are not able to make it to the next level. We will continue to try new ones, but in a short while, based on the number of games we get to play, I could see us assembling a group of players who will benefit our programme going forward."
But having gone so close to inflicting a humiliating defeat on the mighty Argentina in their homeland, Captain Burrell couldn't help but wonder what the headlines around the world would have read.
"Like everyone else, I'm extremely disappointed, but someone has to stand his ground and comfort the players and this is exactly what I did when I went to the dressing room after the game. I congratulated the players and told them to lift their chins because they had just played very well against Argentina and they were not to be daunted by the result," he said.
BY IAN BURNETT Sport Editor
Saturday, February 13, 2010
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Having earlier charged the Reggae Boyz to compete against Argentina with pride and honour, Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), was first in the dressing room after Wednesday night's encounter to offer congratulations to his charges for a job well done.
The JFF boss had indicated to the players and the technical staff that the possibility of sealing high-level friendly games in the future was dependent on a quality performance against the number eight-ranked South Americans, one of the favourites heading into this summer's South Africa World Cup Finals.
Argentina's Juan Mercier (left) and Jamaica's Keammar Daley do battle during their friendly soccer game in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Wednesday. Argentina won 2-1. (Photos: AP)
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"First of all, I want to congratulate the team for playing with heart. In fact, it has been quite a while since I've seen this sort of performance coming from a Jamaican team, especially in the second half I thought they gave it their all. Of course there were one or two blunders which might have resulted in what transpired and we just have to learn from this," Captain Burrell offered, while awaiting the departure of the team from its dressing room shortly after the game which they lost 1-2, after shocking the hosts by holding a 1-0 lead up to the 84th minute.
"I want to definitely congratulate Ryan Johnson, he's one for the future... simple football, very disciplined. He approaches the game with professionalism and purpose and watching his behaviour on the field told me that at all times he was trying to lift the team," added the JFF head in praise of the Jamaican goal scorer, who was notching his first goal for Jamaica in only his third outing.
Added Captain Burrell: "Again I must congratulate the Boyz, they have done Jamaica proud and we will just have to continue to build on this solid platform which has been established here tonight (Wednesday) in Argentina.
"One has to remember that you are playing against Argentina, the number eighth-ranked team in the world. Argentina is Argentina and therefore playing against them in Argentina in an atmosphere that was extremely vocal and doing what they did is encouraging," said the veteran football administrator.
However, the Caribbean Football Union vice-president and CONCACAF and FIFA executive member could not help but take a jab at the Peruvian officials who appeared biased in executing their duties.
"I never comment on officiating, that's all right, I thought a number of hometown decisions went their way, but that is the game of football, but on a whole the Reggae Boyz have done what I asked them to do and that was to give a sterling performance, to play with purpose and we've seen this," noted Captain Burrell.
The referee turned down a close penalty appeal against Johnson in the first half, appeared too lenient against Argentine players for fouls on Dane Richards outside the field, Navion Boyd, Shavar Thomas who was slapped in his face and Rodolph Austin who claimed he was called a monkey by the Argentine captain.
And to top it off, the scandalous decision which the assistant referee called a pushing foul on Jermaine Taylor, who was shielding the ball going towards the corner flag in the 94th minute. The free kick led to the winning goal.
That aside, Captain Burrell thought he had seen enough to suggest that many players will be called but few would be chosen. "But what is also clear is that not all players are going to cut it at this level and one of the things which I will instruct the technical committee to do is concentrate on a group of players with purpose. Players who are serious, who are determined, who are ready to get us in the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil.
"Not all will make it and we are not going to waste time with those who demonstrate that they are not able to make it to the next level. We will continue to try new ones, but in a short while, based on the number of games we get to play, I could see us assembling a group of players who will benefit our programme going forward."
But having gone so close to inflicting a humiliating defeat on the mighty Argentina in their homeland, Captain Burrell couldn't help but wonder what the headlines around the world would have read.
"Like everyone else, I'm extremely disappointed, but someone has to stand his ground and comfort the players and this is exactly what I did when I went to the dressing room after the game. I congratulated the players and told them to lift their chins because they had just played very well against Argentina and they were not to be daunted by the result," he said.
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