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Hall, Simpson want to coach Reggae Boyz
Published: Monday | June 17, 2013
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
Two of the heroes from Jamaica's lone voyage to the World Cup Finals, France '98, are putting themselves forward to fill the vacant post of head coach of the national senior team, following the resignation of Theodore Whitmore last week Wednesday morning.
The England-based duo of Fitzroy Simpson and Paul Hall would like the opportunity to jointly coach the team, with the former deeming embarrassing the fact that the country's senior team has not made it back to football's greatest showpiece since France.
"It is my country and I am passionate about that and I truly believe that we are totally underachieving," Simpson told The Gleaner. "We have underachieved since 1998 and the platform was built to get the talent behind us to go and fulfil and become a bigger, better and stronger nation. It is embarrassing, because we have an array of young talent."
Simpson believes the difference between squads that have failed to qualify for a second World Cup and the 1998 group is the level of commitment.
"The talent that I know is there and the talent that is available overseas, Jamaica should be a major force in world football," Simpson shared. "We should have made it back to the World Cup because the talent that has gone through coaches has for some reason never gelled.
"It is not only about talent, as persons are saying sometimes it is all about direction and leadership on the pitch. We had 11 to 12 leaders willing to die in 1998, but I don't see that right now. But whatever the missing ingredient is, Paul and I have the desire to fix it," he declared.
The 43-year-old is backing himself and 40-year-old Hall to turn the fortunes of the country around.
"We would have to bring a passion and drive to achieve. I am not saying the other coaches didn't have it, but something is obviously not working," Simpson argued.
"I am not questioning any of the coaches, I am just stating what we can bring to the table."
STILL HOPEFUL
Simpson concedes that it will be very difficult to qualify the country for the next World Cup, given the team's current position at the foot of Hexagonal on two points from six games.
He, however, believes that the play-off spot is still within reach and if not, there is the next campaign.
Simpson, who played for a number of clubs including Manchester City, has a UEFA 'B' coaching licence and has worked with English third-tier club Swindon Town's youth programme.
Hall, on the other hand, holds a UEFA 'A' coaching licence. He is currently an assistant coach at Conference National side Tamworth, but was previously assistant manager of the English Conference team Mansfield Town and helped to guide them to the 2010/11 FA Trophy final hosted at Wembley Stadium.
ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com
Published: Monday | June 17, 2013
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
Two of the heroes from Jamaica's lone voyage to the World Cup Finals, France '98, are putting themselves forward to fill the vacant post of head coach of the national senior team, following the resignation of Theodore Whitmore last week Wednesday morning.
The England-based duo of Fitzroy Simpson and Paul Hall would like the opportunity to jointly coach the team, with the former deeming embarrassing the fact that the country's senior team has not made it back to football's greatest showpiece since France.
"It is my country and I am passionate about that and I truly believe that we are totally underachieving," Simpson told The Gleaner. "We have underachieved since 1998 and the platform was built to get the talent behind us to go and fulfil and become a bigger, better and stronger nation. It is embarrassing, because we have an array of young talent."
Simpson believes the difference between squads that have failed to qualify for a second World Cup and the 1998 group is the level of commitment.
"The talent that I know is there and the talent that is available overseas, Jamaica should be a major force in world football," Simpson shared. "We should have made it back to the World Cup because the talent that has gone through coaches has for some reason never gelled.
"It is not only about talent, as persons are saying sometimes it is all about direction and leadership on the pitch. We had 11 to 12 leaders willing to die in 1998, but I don't see that right now. But whatever the missing ingredient is, Paul and I have the desire to fix it," he declared.
The 43-year-old is backing himself and 40-year-old Hall to turn the fortunes of the country around.
"We would have to bring a passion and drive to achieve. I am not saying the other coaches didn't have it, but something is obviously not working," Simpson argued.
"I am not questioning any of the coaches, I am just stating what we can bring to the table."
STILL HOPEFUL
Simpson concedes that it will be very difficult to qualify the country for the next World Cup, given the team's current position at the foot of Hexagonal on two points from six games.
He, however, believes that the play-off spot is still within reach and if not, there is the next campaign.
Simpson, who played for a number of clubs including Manchester City, has a UEFA 'B' coaching licence and has worked with English third-tier club Swindon Town's youth programme.
Hall, on the other hand, holds a UEFA 'A' coaching licence. He is currently an assistant coach at Conference National side Tamworth, but was previously assistant manager of the English Conference team Mansfield Town and helped to guide them to the 2010/11 FA Trophy final hosted at Wembley Stadium.
ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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