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'You Have Got To Start Somewhere'
Published: Wednesday | January 25, 20120 Comments
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
While not the first-rate fixtures that may have been envisaged with the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers only months away, Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore admits he is simply glad to get things back on track, with the team set to contest three friendly internationals next month.
The national team will play two games against Cuba on the 24th (Ash Wednesday) at the National Stadium and another two days later at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. The team will then travel to New Zealand where they face that region's powerhouse, the All Whites, on February 29.
The games will mark the first time the Jamaican team has played a game since October 11 last year when they lost 2-1 to Honduras - a three-month period of inactivity that coincides with a three-month suspension served by Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell.
"They might not be the type of games that we are looking for, but you have to start somewhere," Whitmore told The Gleaner.
"We have some tough qualifiers coming up, and if you really look at Cuba and Antigua, (they) should be on the same level, so it can be beneficial. One has to play these sort of games."
The team will begin their campaign for a spot at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil - in a four-team zone - on June 8 with a match against Guatemala. The other twoteams in the zone are the United States, and Antigua and Barbuda.
During Jamaica's inactivity, all three teams played at least three matches each, with top rivals the United States playing France, Slovenia and Venezuela.
Interestingly, the Boyz have a losing record against their closest neighbours, with the Cubans winning 12 of the 24 friendlies (Jamaica won seven and five ended in draws). The national team beat New Zealand in their only encounter in 2000 - a 2-1 win in the Guangzhou Four Nations Tournament. Whitmore and recently retired Andy Williams were on the scoresheet.
Having lost their last five friendly internationals, Whitmore concedes that the coaching staff will be looking to strengthen some areas and changes have to be made to the squad.
"We have a couple of areas that we have identified that we will be getting in some players, but as the days go by, we will make the announcement," Whitmore said.
defensive reinforcements
With 12 goals conceded in the team's last five games, defensive reinforcements could be a key area for the team and players like Damion Stewart and Claude Davis, members of the 2008 campaign who still ply their trade in England, have been spoken about in the media lately, as well as striker Marlon King, who had some legal woes recently.
King has had a strong season so far for championship team Birmingham, scoring 11 goals in 28 appearances for the club. However, Whitmore would not be drawn on specifics.
"We have never ruled out anyone. Once they are playing at the highest level they should be able to do a job for the country, and we will invite them once they are interested," he stated.
Published: Wednesday | January 25, 20120 Comments
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
While not the first-rate fixtures that may have been envisaged with the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers only months away, Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore admits he is simply glad to get things back on track, with the team set to contest three friendly internationals next month.
The national team will play two games against Cuba on the 24th (Ash Wednesday) at the National Stadium and another two days later at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. The team will then travel to New Zealand where they face that region's powerhouse, the All Whites, on February 29.
The games will mark the first time the Jamaican team has played a game since October 11 last year when they lost 2-1 to Honduras - a three-month period of inactivity that coincides with a three-month suspension served by Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell.
"They might not be the type of games that we are looking for, but you have to start somewhere," Whitmore told The Gleaner.
"We have some tough qualifiers coming up, and if you really look at Cuba and Antigua, (they) should be on the same level, so it can be beneficial. One has to play these sort of games."
The team will begin their campaign for a spot at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil - in a four-team zone - on June 8 with a match against Guatemala. The other twoteams in the zone are the United States, and Antigua and Barbuda.
During Jamaica's inactivity, all three teams played at least three matches each, with top rivals the United States playing France, Slovenia and Venezuela.
Interestingly, the Boyz have a losing record against their closest neighbours, with the Cubans winning 12 of the 24 friendlies (Jamaica won seven and five ended in draws). The national team beat New Zealand in their only encounter in 2000 - a 2-1 win in the Guangzhou Four Nations Tournament. Whitmore and recently retired Andy Williams were on the scoresheet.
Having lost their last five friendly internationals, Whitmore concedes that the coaching staff will be looking to strengthen some areas and changes have to be made to the squad.
"We have a couple of areas that we have identified that we will be getting in some players, but as the days go by, we will make the announcement," Whitmore said.
defensive reinforcements
With 12 goals conceded in the team's last five games, defensive reinforcements could be a key area for the team and players like Damion Stewart and Claude Davis, members of the 2008 campaign who still ply their trade in England, have been spoken about in the media lately, as well as striker Marlon King, who had some legal woes recently.
King has had a strong season so far for championship team Birmingham, scoring 11 goals in 28 appearances for the club. However, Whitmore would not be drawn on specifics.
"We have never ruled out anyone. Once they are playing at the highest level they should be able to do a job for the country, and we will invite them once they are interested," he stated.
