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Captain Burrell keeping the faith
Published: Sunday | July 7, 2013
Burrell
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
It has not come as a surprise to Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell, that the country's senior men football team has plunged 28 places in the latest FIFA/Coca- Cola World Rankings released last Thursday.
The Reggae Boyz have dropped to 77th. The drop represents the second biggest downward move by the Reggae Boyz in the rankings haven fallen 33 spots in 2006.
Jamaica have failed to win any of their last seven international matches, including six World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ). The last four WCQ have ended in defeats. The repercussions for Jamaica's poor showing in the hexagonal round of qualifiers also accounted for the job of former head coach, Theodore Whitmore, who is yet to be replaced.
"We didn't do well during the qualifiers and this was always expected," Burrell, who is in the United States in his capacity as vice-president of CONCACAF for today's opening of the Gold Cup tournament, said. "We just have to put the new staff in place and try and do much better in the upcoming qualifiers.
"It is expected that when you lose games and don't perform well in the international competitions that the ranking is bound to dip. This was expected and hence, I am not at this point in time flustered or daunted."
Burrell does, however, concede that given the team's lowly ranking, it is more difficult to attract quality opponents for friendlies such as the one he is trying to secure for the next FIFA date on August 14.
"The implications are that it makes it more difficult for you to be invited by opponents who are further up," Burrell shared. "The good thing is that we now have a chance in a short time to improve that and if there is one positive, it is that one. We have games that are coming up and we expect to do well and once we do well in these games our ranking will improve."
worthwhile opponents
"I am working very diligently to get opponents to play the Reggae Boyz. At this time, we have to just get the best available team, because on that date, a number of teams around the world will be involved in World Cup Qualifiers and other games. We are trying to get worthwhile opponents."
Jamaica currently sit at the bottom of the six-nation standings on two points, but Burrell is retaining hope that given the impending changes the team can have a change of fortune.
"We continue to look overseas as well as at home (for a new coach) and in the next few weeks, as soon as everything is completed the individual will be named," Burrell said. "We are focused on the way forward and will do everything that is humanly possible to improve and try and qualify. We have four games remaining and we are still in line for qualification."
ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2.../sports72.html
Published: Sunday | July 7, 2013
Burrell
Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
It has not come as a surprise to Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell, that the country's senior men football team has plunged 28 places in the latest FIFA/Coca- Cola World Rankings released last Thursday.
The Reggae Boyz have dropped to 77th. The drop represents the second biggest downward move by the Reggae Boyz in the rankings haven fallen 33 spots in 2006.
Jamaica have failed to win any of their last seven international matches, including six World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ). The last four WCQ have ended in defeats. The repercussions for Jamaica's poor showing in the hexagonal round of qualifiers also accounted for the job of former head coach, Theodore Whitmore, who is yet to be replaced.
"We didn't do well during the qualifiers and this was always expected," Burrell, who is in the United States in his capacity as vice-president of CONCACAF for today's opening of the Gold Cup tournament, said. "We just have to put the new staff in place and try and do much better in the upcoming qualifiers.
"It is expected that when you lose games and don't perform well in the international competitions that the ranking is bound to dip. This was expected and hence, I am not at this point in time flustered or daunted."
Burrell does, however, concede that given the team's lowly ranking, it is more difficult to attract quality opponents for friendlies such as the one he is trying to secure for the next FIFA date on August 14.
"The implications are that it makes it more difficult for you to be invited by opponents who are further up," Burrell shared. "The good thing is that we now have a chance in a short time to improve that and if there is one positive, it is that one. We have games that are coming up and we expect to do well and once we do well in these games our ranking will improve."
worthwhile opponents
"I am working very diligently to get opponents to play the Reggae Boyz. At this time, we have to just get the best available team, because on that date, a number of teams around the world will be involved in World Cup Qualifiers and other games. We are trying to get worthwhile opponents."
Jamaica currently sit at the bottom of the six-nation standings on two points, but Burrell is retaining hope that given the impending changes the team can have a change of fortune.
"We continue to look overseas as well as at home (for a new coach) and in the next few weeks, as soon as everything is completed the individual will be named," Burrell said. "We are focused on the way forward and will do everything that is humanly possible to improve and try and qualify. We have four games remaining and we are still in line for qualification."
ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2.../sports72.html