Tweet
Whitmore Can Take Jamaica Back To World Cup - Earle
Published: Sunday | February 12, 20122 Comments
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
Robbie Earle, the man who will forever be remembered for Jamaica's first goal at a FIFA World Cup Finals, believes that despite a poor run, former teammate and current Reggae Boyz head coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, is well equipped to return the national senior men's team to international relevance.
"I believe that if given the right support, he (Whitmore) is the man that can take Jamaica back to the World Cup," said Earle.
Earle, a former Wimbledon captain in the English top flight during his playing days and currently an analyst for international broadcasters ESPN, admitted that he was surprised when Whitmore took the reins of the team in 2009, but has been impressed with how the former midfielder has managed the team and himself since then.
The Reggae Boyz have now gone five games without a win.
Vote of confidence
However, Earle gave Whitmore a resounding vote of confidence and believes that it is imperative the coach receives full support from the Jamaica Football Federation and corporate Jamaica, while being given the room to grow, make mistakes and learn from them.
"I spoke with Theodore when I was in Jamaica recently and he is looking forward to the start of the competition (World Cup qualifying). He feels he is getting a settled squad and he thinks they will be well prepared," Earle said. "The big thing now is that he gets the support from the JFF (Jamaica Football Federation) and financially from the country and that he is allowed to make some mistakes because that's a part of coaching. The greats all make mistakes, but if he is allowed to make some mistakes, learn from them and move on, then I think Jamaican football will be better off because it's important that Jamaica also develop good international coaches.
Impressed
"I have been impressed with him as a coach, he knows the game and is a student of the game. He may not be as vocal as some coaches but he knows what he is doing and is confident in his abilities," said Earle.
Summing up Jamaica's chances to qualify for the 2014 World Cup Finals, Earle, a member of the ESPN Soccernet PressPass panel on board the Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas for the recent Super Bowl at Sea, thinks the Reggae Boyz stand a good chance, once they can make the most of home field advantage.
"If he gets that support, if he gets that little bit of luck that he needs, of course, home form is going to be key as well in making sure when we come home, we are difficult to beat, and we use all the players we can from the talent pool - whether they be in Jamaica, the US or the UK - we stand a very good chance of making it," said Earle.
As equipped he may now be as a coach, Earle laughed when asked if Whitmore ever showed any signs of being a coach during his playing days.
"Theodore was not that player that when you sit in the dressing room and look around, you would think that he will make a great coach some day. There were others like Peter Cargill who you thought would be destined to become a major coach, Theodore was never one of them," said Earle.
"He (Whitmore) was a quiet guy with outrageous skills and great technical abilities, but a very quiet, introvert type of person so I was surprised when he first got the job. But watching from afar, I am quite impressed with how he has handled himself and he is learning and maturing well into the role."
Jamaica will open their World Cup qualifying account on June 8.
Published: Sunday | February 12, 20122 Comments
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
Robbie Earle, the man who will forever be remembered for Jamaica's first goal at a FIFA World Cup Finals, believes that despite a poor run, former teammate and current Reggae Boyz head coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, is well equipped to return the national senior men's team to international relevance.
"I believe that if given the right support, he (Whitmore) is the man that can take Jamaica back to the World Cup," said Earle.
Earle, a former Wimbledon captain in the English top flight during his playing days and currently an analyst for international broadcasters ESPN, admitted that he was surprised when Whitmore took the reins of the team in 2009, but has been impressed with how the former midfielder has managed the team and himself since then.
The Reggae Boyz have now gone five games without a win.
Vote of confidence
However, Earle gave Whitmore a resounding vote of confidence and believes that it is imperative the coach receives full support from the Jamaica Football Federation and corporate Jamaica, while being given the room to grow, make mistakes and learn from them.
"I spoke with Theodore when I was in Jamaica recently and he is looking forward to the start of the competition (World Cup qualifying). He feels he is getting a settled squad and he thinks they will be well prepared," Earle said. "The big thing now is that he gets the support from the JFF (Jamaica Football Federation) and financially from the country and that he is allowed to make some mistakes because that's a part of coaching. The greats all make mistakes, but if he is allowed to make some mistakes, learn from them and move on, then I think Jamaican football will be better off because it's important that Jamaica also develop good international coaches.
Impressed
"I have been impressed with him as a coach, he knows the game and is a student of the game. He may not be as vocal as some coaches but he knows what he is doing and is confident in his abilities," said Earle.
Summing up Jamaica's chances to qualify for the 2014 World Cup Finals, Earle, a member of the ESPN Soccernet PressPass panel on board the Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas for the recent Super Bowl at Sea, thinks the Reggae Boyz stand a good chance, once they can make the most of home field advantage.
"If he gets that support, if he gets that little bit of luck that he needs, of course, home form is going to be key as well in making sure when we come home, we are difficult to beat, and we use all the players we can from the talent pool - whether they be in Jamaica, the US or the UK - we stand a very good chance of making it," said Earle.
As equipped he may now be as a coach, Earle laughed when asked if Whitmore ever showed any signs of being a coach during his playing days.
"Theodore was not that player that when you sit in the dressing room and look around, you would think that he will make a great coach some day. There were others like Peter Cargill who you thought would be destined to become a major coach, Theodore was never one of them," said Earle.
"He (Whitmore) was a quiet guy with outrageous skills and great technical abilities, but a very quiet, introvert type of person so I was surprised when he first got the job. But watching from afar, I am quite impressed with how he has handled himself and he is learning and maturing well into the role."
Jamaica will open their World Cup qualifying account on June 8.
