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Simpson revels in role as foster parent to U-17s
HOWARD WALKER @ the MEN’S UNDER-17 WORLD CUP IN MEXICO
Sunday, June 19, 2011
NOT many Jamaican footballers get a chance to play in a World Cup, and even fewer administrators are afforded the opportunity to manage a team at the global level.
But Roy Simpson finds himself in that elite club and will be only the fourth person to successfully manage a team to a World Cup.
Roy Simpson manager of Jamaica’s Under-17 footballers, in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo: Howard Walker)
Roy Simpson manager of Jamaica’s Under-17 footballers, in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo: Howard Walker)
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Simpson has been the manager of Jamaica's Under-17s ever since the bunch of talented players were assembled and he is still here, on one of football's greatest stage — the World Cup.
Jamaica created history in 1998 when the senior Reggae Boyz first qualified for a World Cup, and that was quickly followed by the Under-17s in 1999, then the Under-20s in 2001.
But it has been a long 10-year wait and Simpson, or "Manage", as he is affectionately called, has broken that jinx and is an integral part of keeping the Boyz focused for success.
Simpson, a former goalkeeper at St Jago High between 1987-89 and a former referee, said it has been a tremendous experience and he was "humbled and grateful that I was afforded an opportunity to serve my country".
To manage a group of under-17 youngsters might prove difficult, but Simpson, who acts as a parent to these youngsters, said his work was made easy.
"These set of youngsters are very disciplined and focused," he told the Sunday Observer. But Simpson's work is not only about football, he has to be a part of those players' social lives and is the link between the players and their parents.
He had to earn the trust of the parents, who basically handed over the youngsters into his care on numerous occasions while they are in football camps.
Simpson is also responsible for their development off the field, instilling in them certain values and etiquette and ensuring that they are well groomed while away from home.
He is responsible for their meals: when they eat, how they eat and what they eat; what they wear and when they wear it; when to sleep and when to rise.
The man who is also a former referee and currently vice-president of the St Catherine Referees Group, said he had to "understand each social background", but it wouldn't be possible without the "support from each parent, school and club".
Simpson, who was also a former first vice-president/treasurer of the St Catherine Football Association (FA), thinks a template has been laid for future success to junior World Cups.
"Yes, if we continue doing the things that made this unit successful and erasing the negatives, consistent success at this level is achievable," he noted.
Simpson had been around a few teams and came extremely close in 2009, needing only a draw against Honduras to reach the Under-20 World Cup Finals in Egypt.
The Boyz lost that match 0-4 and lost the hope of a nation eager to play in The Greatest Show on Earth.
But two years on, Simpson is all smiles, thanks to a group of dedicated youngsters.
"The strength of this unit is the discipline of the players, their hunger to be different and their belief that they can be different," he asserted.
Jamaica are drawn in a tough group alongside Argentina, France and Japan, but Simpson thinks the young Reggae Boyz have the goods to deliver. "I believe that they will make us proud in Mexico," he said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1Pjd3SQnp
HOWARD WALKER @ the MEN’S UNDER-17 WORLD CUP IN MEXICO
Sunday, June 19, 2011
NOT many Jamaican footballers get a chance to play in a World Cup, and even fewer administrators are afforded the opportunity to manage a team at the global level.
But Roy Simpson finds himself in that elite club and will be only the fourth person to successfully manage a team to a World Cup.
Roy Simpson manager of Jamaica’s Under-17 footballers, in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo: Howard Walker)
Roy Simpson manager of Jamaica’s Under-17 footballers, in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo: Howard Walker)#slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}
1/1 Simpson has been the manager of Jamaica's Under-17s ever since the bunch of talented players were assembled and he is still here, on one of football's greatest stage — the World Cup.
Jamaica created history in 1998 when the senior Reggae Boyz first qualified for a World Cup, and that was quickly followed by the Under-17s in 1999, then the Under-20s in 2001.
But it has been a long 10-year wait and Simpson, or "Manage", as he is affectionately called, has broken that jinx and is an integral part of keeping the Boyz focused for success.
Simpson, a former goalkeeper at St Jago High between 1987-89 and a former referee, said it has been a tremendous experience and he was "humbled and grateful that I was afforded an opportunity to serve my country".
To manage a group of under-17 youngsters might prove difficult, but Simpson, who acts as a parent to these youngsters, said his work was made easy.
"These set of youngsters are very disciplined and focused," he told the Sunday Observer. But Simpson's work is not only about football, he has to be a part of those players' social lives and is the link between the players and their parents.
He had to earn the trust of the parents, who basically handed over the youngsters into his care on numerous occasions while they are in football camps.
Simpson is also responsible for their development off the field, instilling in them certain values and etiquette and ensuring that they are well groomed while away from home.
He is responsible for their meals: when they eat, how they eat and what they eat; what they wear and when they wear it; when to sleep and when to rise.
The man who is also a former referee and currently vice-president of the St Catherine Referees Group, said he had to "understand each social background", but it wouldn't be possible without the "support from each parent, school and club".
Simpson, who was also a former first vice-president/treasurer of the St Catherine Football Association (FA), thinks a template has been laid for future success to junior World Cups.
"Yes, if we continue doing the things that made this unit successful and erasing the negatives, consistent success at this level is achievable," he noted.
Simpson had been around a few teams and came extremely close in 2009, needing only a draw against Honduras to reach the Under-20 World Cup Finals in Egypt.
The Boyz lost that match 0-4 and lost the hope of a nation eager to play in The Greatest Show on Earth.
But two years on, Simpson is all smiles, thanks to a group of dedicated youngsters.
"The strength of this unit is the discipline of the players, their hunger to be different and their belief that they can be different," he asserted.
Jamaica are drawn in a tough group alongside Argentina, France and Japan, but Simpson thinks the young Reggae Boyz have the goods to deliver. "I believe that they will make us proud in Mexico," he said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1Pjd3SQnp