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Reggae Boyz on track for Caribbean glory
Saturday, November 20, 2010
HEAD coach Mr Theodore Whitmore and his Reggae Boyz appear to be on track to successfully defend their Digicel Caribbean Cup, which begins next week in Martinique.
We believe they are on the right path because of their record at the international level this year. From eight games, the Boyz have won four, lost three and drawn one, and while these statistics might not be overly impressive, they should be put into context.
Generally speaking, Mr Whitmore and his technical staff, backed by their bosses at the JFF administrative level, got it right for the most part with the selection of opponents.
From the friendly matches played so far this year, the Boyz had just one home and away fixture against Caribbean opponents Trinidad and Tobago, the eight-time Caribbean Cup champions, and Jamaica's fiercest regional rival.
The Boyz won both games — an emphatic 3-1 triumph in Port of Spain in August and 1-0 in Kingston two months later. They have also given good accounts of themselves against the wider CONCACAF rivals, beating Canada and Costa Rica 1-0 at home while drawing the return contest with a much improved Costa Rica 0-0 in Florida in their latest contest on Wednesday.
Their three losses have come against traditionally better opposition in South American and world giants Argentina (1-2) in Argentina in February, 0-2 to South Africa in extremely difficult circumstances in Germany in May, and 1-2 to Peru in Florida in September.
The Boyz open their Group I Caribbean Cup Finals against Antigua and Barbuda on November 27 at the Riviere Pilote Stadium; oppose Guadeloupe at the same venue two days later, before completing the preliminary phase against Guyana on December 1, also at the Riviere Pilote Stadium.
The winners of their group will play the runners-up of Group H, which comprises Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Grenada and hosts Martinique, the 1993 champions.
The semi-finals are slated for December 3 at the Pierre Aliker, Dillon Stadium, with the final and third place play-off at the same venue two days later.
The semi-finalists qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup slated for next summer.
Throughout the period of preparation for the Digicel Cup and by extension the Gold Cup, we have seen Mr Whitmore expose a number of players, including schoolboys, and we've seen him employ various formations and strategies. We might not have agreed with all his manoeuvrings, selections and non-selections, but we believe they were all well-intentioned.
Mr Whitmore will not have the England-based players at his disposal, but he will be able to pull from those based in the Scandinavian nations, as well as those who play in the US Major League and United Soccer League.
This pool of players, we submit, has sufficient quality and is certainly good enough to give the nation its fifth Caribbean Cup title.
We know there are no guarantees in sport as victory will ultimately be determined on the field of play, still we wish Mr Whitmore and his Boyz the very best of success, while at the same time reminding them that the more important 2014 Brazil World Cup Qualifying Campaign takes shape after the Gold Cup.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...#ixzz15y5zuFR9
Saturday, November 20, 2010
HEAD coach Mr Theodore Whitmore and his Reggae Boyz appear to be on track to successfully defend their Digicel Caribbean Cup, which begins next week in Martinique.
We believe they are on the right path because of their record at the international level this year. From eight games, the Boyz have won four, lost three and drawn one, and while these statistics might not be overly impressive, they should be put into context.
Generally speaking, Mr Whitmore and his technical staff, backed by their bosses at the JFF administrative level, got it right for the most part with the selection of opponents.
From the friendly matches played so far this year, the Boyz had just one home and away fixture against Caribbean opponents Trinidad and Tobago, the eight-time Caribbean Cup champions, and Jamaica's fiercest regional rival.
The Boyz won both games — an emphatic 3-1 triumph in Port of Spain in August and 1-0 in Kingston two months later. They have also given good accounts of themselves against the wider CONCACAF rivals, beating Canada and Costa Rica 1-0 at home while drawing the return contest with a much improved Costa Rica 0-0 in Florida in their latest contest on Wednesday.
Their three losses have come against traditionally better opposition in South American and world giants Argentina (1-2) in Argentina in February, 0-2 to South Africa in extremely difficult circumstances in Germany in May, and 1-2 to Peru in Florida in September.
The Boyz open their Group I Caribbean Cup Finals against Antigua and Barbuda on November 27 at the Riviere Pilote Stadium; oppose Guadeloupe at the same venue two days later, before completing the preliminary phase against Guyana on December 1, also at the Riviere Pilote Stadium.
The winners of their group will play the runners-up of Group H, which comprises Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Grenada and hosts Martinique, the 1993 champions.
The semi-finals are slated for December 3 at the Pierre Aliker, Dillon Stadium, with the final and third place play-off at the same venue two days later.
The semi-finalists qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup slated for next summer.
Throughout the period of preparation for the Digicel Cup and by extension the Gold Cup, we have seen Mr Whitmore expose a number of players, including schoolboys, and we've seen him employ various formations and strategies. We might not have agreed with all his manoeuvrings, selections and non-selections, but we believe they were all well-intentioned.
Mr Whitmore will not have the England-based players at his disposal, but he will be able to pull from those based in the Scandinavian nations, as well as those who play in the US Major League and United Soccer League.
This pool of players, we submit, has sufficient quality and is certainly good enough to give the nation its fifth Caribbean Cup title.
We know there are no guarantees in sport as victory will ultimately be determined on the field of play, still we wish Mr Whitmore and his Boyz the very best of success, while at the same time reminding them that the more important 2014 Brazil World Cup Qualifying Campaign takes shape after the Gold Cup.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...#ixzz15y5zuFR9