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'Tappa' banks on unity for Guatemala clash
IAN BURNETT @ THE CONCACAF GOLD CUP in the USA
Thursday, June 09, 2011
MIAMI, Florida — One of the main aims of the nine-day training camp in Brazil was to build team spirit, team unity and camaraderie, and head coach Theodore Whitmore now believes that that aim was realised.
In fact, the former Reggae Boyz skipper, whose first tournament assignment as head coach was at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament, believes this year's group is more of a team than the previous one.
The Reggae Boyz bond at the end of yesterday’s training session at the FIU Stadium in Miami. (Photo: Ian Burnett)
"We have spent a couple of days in Brazil to build the team spirit, so we have more of a team here than in 2009 when we basically had a group," Whitmore told the media shortly after yesterday's training session at the FIU Stadium, venue for tomorrow second game against Guatemala.
Jamaica lead Group B with three points, two ahead of both Honduras and Guatemala, who played to a 0-0 result in Monday night's second game of the double header, where Jamaica blanked Grenada 4-0.
Whitmore expects tomorrow's game to be tough, because the Central Americans need to get something positive out of the game to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the next round, and as such he's preparing his Boyz for a fierce battle.
"First, every game we come here to play we know it is going to be tough, and Guatemala will be the same, so we are preparing ourselves to face a tough Guatemala because their backs are against the wall.
"They only have one point, so at least they need to get something out of our game, so we are preparing ourselves as much to qualify from that game," he said.
Whitmore and his coaching staff are trying to build a professional atmosphere in the dressing room, and he has constantly warned his players against complacency.
"They know it is a tough assignment they have on Friday night and the training session went well. We have another tomorrow (today) to wrap up a couple of things, and then we'll take it from there.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, so basically everything takes time, but somewhere about 60-70 per cent was okay today," he said of the players' output after having an early morning session in the gym, then a short spell at the swimming pool.
And regarding the artificial surface, which most professional players detest, the coach didn't think it was anything to be concerned about.
"Football is evolving, so if you only think about playing on grassed fields (you won't make it). We have to condition our minds on playing on any surface and in any situation. That is the sort of behaviour we are trying to build in the national programme," he reasserted.
He said at present the players are about 80 per cent of where he would like them to be, with the hope of improving as the tournament progresses.
"Right now we are about 80 per cent and we can get better game by game. We don't want complacency and the thoughts of the Grenada result to (excite us), so that is something we try to get the guys to understand that the Grenada game is done, so we have to concentrate on the Guatemala game."
At yesterday's field session, Whitmore had tactical periods with the starting side from Monday night, then he switched Eric Vernan with Omar Daley, and also replaced Ryan Johnson with Keammar Daley, who looked very sharp in front of goal.
"We have to give ourselves options, and those were two of the options we are looking at going into the game on Friday night," explained Whitmore, who has now won two games from four at the Gold Cup.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1OnH56MfH
IAN BURNETT @ THE CONCACAF GOLD CUP in the USA
Thursday, June 09, 2011
MIAMI, Florida — One of the main aims of the nine-day training camp in Brazil was to build team spirit, team unity and camaraderie, and head coach Theodore Whitmore now believes that that aim was realised.
In fact, the former Reggae Boyz skipper, whose first tournament assignment as head coach was at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament, believes this year's group is more of a team than the previous one.
The Reggae Boyz bond at the end of yesterday’s training session at the FIU Stadium in Miami. (Photo: Ian Burnett)
"We have spent a couple of days in Brazil to build the team spirit, so we have more of a team here than in 2009 when we basically had a group," Whitmore told the media shortly after yesterday's training session at the FIU Stadium, venue for tomorrow second game against Guatemala.
Jamaica lead Group B with three points, two ahead of both Honduras and Guatemala, who played to a 0-0 result in Monday night's second game of the double header, where Jamaica blanked Grenada 4-0.
Whitmore expects tomorrow's game to be tough, because the Central Americans need to get something positive out of the game to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the next round, and as such he's preparing his Boyz for a fierce battle.
"First, every game we come here to play we know it is going to be tough, and Guatemala will be the same, so we are preparing ourselves to face a tough Guatemala because their backs are against the wall.
"They only have one point, so at least they need to get something out of our game, so we are preparing ourselves as much to qualify from that game," he said.
Whitmore and his coaching staff are trying to build a professional atmosphere in the dressing room, and he has constantly warned his players against complacency.
"They know it is a tough assignment they have on Friday night and the training session went well. We have another tomorrow (today) to wrap up a couple of things, and then we'll take it from there.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, so basically everything takes time, but somewhere about 60-70 per cent was okay today," he said of the players' output after having an early morning session in the gym, then a short spell at the swimming pool.
And regarding the artificial surface, which most professional players detest, the coach didn't think it was anything to be concerned about.
"Football is evolving, so if you only think about playing on grassed fields (you won't make it). We have to condition our minds on playing on any surface and in any situation. That is the sort of behaviour we are trying to build in the national programme," he reasserted.
He said at present the players are about 80 per cent of where he would like them to be, with the hope of improving as the tournament progresses.
"Right now we are about 80 per cent and we can get better game by game. We don't want complacency and the thoughts of the Grenada result to (excite us), so that is something we try to get the guys to understand that the Grenada game is done, so we have to concentrate on the Guatemala game."
At yesterday's field session, Whitmore had tactical periods with the starting side from Monday night, then he switched Eric Vernan with Omar Daley, and also replaced Ryan Johnson with Keammar Daley, who looked very sharp in front of goal.
"We have to give ourselves options, and those were two of the options we are looking at going into the game on Friday night," explained Whitmore, who has now won two games from four at the Gold Cup.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1OnH56MfH