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BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Observer Assistant Sport Editor
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
FINALLY, Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will have their day against an Argentina outfit in a proposed away friendly international set for February 10, it was disclosed yesterday.
Since his return to the presidency of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell has made numerous attempts to tie-up a game with the South American giants and two-time World Cup champions, but each time the two parties look set to ink a deal, talks break down.
BURRELL... even without the top players this is a David and Goliath situation [Hide Description] BURRELL... even without the top players this is a David and Goliath situation [Restore Description] 1/1
The last time both came close to making the game a possibility was back in 2008 when it was suggested that the two nations -- far apart in football history and quality -- could meet in London on May 31 of that year.
But now that a deal has been agreed to, Captain Burrell was an elated man when he gave details of the long-awaited game from overseas yesterday.
"This is a huge game for Jamaica, and to be able to pull this off as a team not playing in the upcoming World Cup, is like a dream come true," he said.
Captain Burrell, on his second stint at the helm of Jamaica's football, noted that president of the Argentine Football Association Julio Grondona was always receptive to the idea of playing against Jamaica.
"I kept expressing a deep interest to Mr Grondona for having a game with his country and he had promised me that one day it would happen, and now that day is here," said the Jamaican businessman, who also serves as an Executive Committee member of CONCACAF.
Captain Burrell said further the game will be played in the seaside city of Mar del Plata, which is located 249 miles south of the Argentina capital of Buenos Aires and the Jamaican contingent should arrive three days prior to kick off.
Wednesday, February 10, is not a FIFA-sanctioned date, which means that both Jamaica and Argentina may not have the services of their top European stars as clubs are reluctant to release their players outside the official FIFA calendar.
But even without the star power of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, Javier Zanetti of Italy's Internazionale, Liverpool's Javier Mascherano and Atletico Madrid's Maxi Rodríguez, Argentina's home-based professionals led by Juan Sebastian Veron could still prove an overwhelming force even for the strongest of Jamaican teams.
"Yes, even without the top players this is a David and Goliath situation, but let me tell you that Jamaicans are courageous people and we will fight to the last man on the field against this powerhouse," the JFF boss said.
For the match-up, Jamaica (ranked 81 by FIFA) will look to their Scandinavia and USA pros to form the basis of the team "with the best crop of local talent".
"We are looking at developing young players as we look to Brazil 2014, so this game will give some of these youngsters the chance to perform against a big team; this will form part of moulding them for tomorrow," Captain Burrell explained.
Pinning down Argentina is in keeping with the JFF's announced game-a-month initiative. Already, the Boyz are down to tackle Canada at the National Stadium on Sunday, January 31.
The Argentina game will mark the return to the bench of coach Diego Maradona, who will end a two-month FIFA ban on Friday. Maradona picked up the ban and fined 25,000 Swiss Francs for his post-match rant following the World Cup qualifier against Uruguay last October.
Captain Burrell was a member of the Marcel Mathier-chaired FIFA Disciplinary Committee that heard the case of the Argentine legend, regarded as one of the finest players of the game.
Argentina (rated eighth by FIFA) secured automatic qualification for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa in the summer after defeating Uruguay 1-0, but the team had struggled in the qualifiers and Maradona had received much flak for his below-par performance as a coach.
The game between the Boyz and Argentina could rank as the best Jamaica have competed in since their 0-1 loss to five-time world champions Brazil in Leicester City, England, in 2003.
Jamaica last played Argentina on June 21, 1998 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France, in a Group H FIFA World Cup Finals preliminary round encounter.
Argentina's leading all-time goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta led the then Daniel Passarella-coached team to a convincing 5-0 spanking of the Reggae Boyz with a hat-trick. The other goals were scored by the skilful Ariel Ortega.
Argentina are drawn in Group B of the South Africa World Cup Finals alongside Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece.
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Assalamu alay kum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu (Peace, mercy and blessings be upon you)
Registered: 01/04/01
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No, we drove over and stayed in a caravan camp and also went to the Croatian bashment too. Everyone apart from the Argies were real friendly and adopted us as their second team. Argies were well arrogant. I remember you as the ugly guy with the big Ja flag and horn making a lot of noise behind us. Your Shortie was well fit, though.
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Assalamu alay kum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu (Peace, mercy and blessings be upon you)
Is it "RANKINGS" or is it NEGOTIATIONS? Seems like the JFF people are able to land "better" opponents when they are NOT in a position to demand ridiculous MATCH FEES based on inflated rankings. The Jamaica at #81 this week is the same Jamaica that was #69 in October and will possibly be at #90 in the next Rankings even with a win vs Canada.
RANKINGS/SPAKINGS/SKANKINGS......BAH HUMBUG!!!
================================================================ Argentina are drawn in Group B of the South Africa World Cup Finals alongside the following teams: Group B Argentina Nigeria, Korea Republic Greece.
OR
Argentina are drawn in Group B of the South Africa World Cup Finals alongside the following teams: Group B Argentina Jamaica Korea Republic Greece.
SAME DIFFRENCE...... Now how about Korea Republic or Greece in London or Kingston? Remember I am the crazy one....
Edited by LINCOLN (01/12/1006:57 AM)
_________________________ "Victory" in wars are never about who is right or wrong but more about who is left standing.
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Now that JFF has done a good job in negiotiating this match now, they will need to negiotiate with the clubs both local and international to release players for this match.
Now that JFF has done a good job in negiotiating this match now, they will need to negiotiate with the clubs both local and international to release players for this match.
Doubt that - Players will have to be in Argentina 3 days before the game......
Quote:
Wednesday, February 10, is not a FIFA-sanctioned date, which means that both Jamaica and Argentina may not have the services of their top European stars as clubs are reluctant to release their players outside the official FIFA calendar.
_________________________ "Victory" in wars are never about who is right or wrong but more about who is left standing.
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Lincoln,
I do think the JFF will get the MLS, DPL, UEFA-based players for both matches, so they will need to discuss on maybe getting five(5) for the Canada match and then another five(5) for the Argentina match.
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Before we go down this "woe is me road" and start back pon the "second class" mentality and digging up the negatives allow me to jump in as only a man born April 17th and who walk with the truth can do.
Ok here goes
1 The lessons learnt from France 98 was this. Open your damn mouth and defend yourself, if you have to pull a Clarence Thomas and call out fi "electronic lynching" fi guy back up off you then do it.
This is war and the die was cast when the Argies coach who was deathly afraid of Jamaica swayed the ref by saying that we were dirty players and put the ref on notice. NOw for a country with the highest murder rate and a bag of so called bad man who no tek talk we were as quiet as church mouse and never counteract the coach talk.
In the world of international football where this thing is war when a guy flip up you have fi be ready and willing fi tun dat over in a minute and send a strong message say guy fi watch dem speech. WE learnt the hard way what being naive cost us when we got those two quick yellow and red.
Was Argentina 5 goals better than a Jamaica team with the Pearl on it? Hell no not even close!! the most those wankers should have got was a draw from us.
WE also learnt that you play your best players and put guys on the back foot because as soon as the god came on(the pearl that is) and arrogantly salad a guy who passed his place and come run up pon the general(you would think they would know better) the first thing we saw was a breakdown in discipline by the Argies and an immediate yellow card.
The lesson was simple. You don't wait pon guy fi attack you, as soon as you come out you come out with your guns blazing and be ready fi step inna guy face. Let guy back up(I have come to the conclusion that its a reason people like Bolt and Shatta are fire signs as we can't relate to the bunker mentality of cowards)
IF we are going to go out then might as well go out guns blazing or as LIncoln said "go hard or go home"
The last and most important lesson we learnt from all that was this
Because you see yourself as weak and not worthy don't mean that the rest of the world see you that way and so while we thought that Jamaica wasn't worthy of being on the same field as the Argies in the end it was our lack of taking precaution and understanding the methods of our enemies that did us in with the airing of that "divisive" documentary and of course when you mess with the most potent strike force in the world at that time(no lowe no goals and "leggo" the pearl) you are bound to come up losers.
So in the end with those lessons learnt and looking at our new team. This current crop of Reggaeboyz with nothing to lose and if they refrain from playing "bitch ball" should be at least 2 goals better than Argentina(only because we lack a system why we aren't at least 4 goals better) with our speed, skill and defensive prowess I see us teking it to dem wicked
The prophet has spoken
What would these mortals do without the "voice of reason" round here to ensure that we hold our heads up. By the Way Marcus Garvey was a Leo. YOu have fi a chaw fire fi can deal with a bunch of people who refuse fi see greatness inna themselves.
YOu think being a prophet is a bed of rose?
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Leggo the Pearl!!! do me a beg unnu just leggo the Pearl
I would not take a game like this at this time if I was Tappa. Only unless it is a financial no-brainer. Otherwise, too risky.
This is a case of $$$$$$$$$$ not Sense......
During his interview aired on Klas FM last Thursday morning Burrell stated that his aim was to have one friendly per month and hopefully they would make enough money to put the JFF back on sound financial footing. Well hopefully he can drum up some sponsorships for the televised game in Jamaica to pay off the £10,000 owed to the English folks. If not the bailiffs will remove the sheetrock/building blocks at the JFF headquarters.
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The game would have been better on Neutral Grounds exmp London or New York City . The good news is that argentina plays costa rica on jan 26 which we can use the costa ricans as a measuring stick , IF Jamaica gets an unlikely win I guarantee they will play us in Kingston .
Edited by metro (01/12/1001:17 PM)
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Bredrin,
We would draw less 15K people for the match is played in New York or London but I can guarantee you there will be 25K-30K Argentines at the summer-time match in Mar del Plata. Also, our boyz can stop over in Rio de Janeiro on the way back home for a brief recharge.
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Originally Posted By: LINCOLN
Originally Posted By: Xy
I would not take a game like this at this time if I was Tappa. Only unless it is a financial no-brainer. Otherwise, too risky.
This is a case of $$$$$$$$$$ not Sense......
During his interview aired on Klas FM last Thursday morning Burrell stated that his aim was to have one friendly per month and hopefully they would make enough money to put the JFF back on sound financial footing. Well hopefully he can drum up some sponsorships for the televised game in Jamaica to pay off the £10,000 owed to the English folks. If not the bailiffs will remove the sheetrock/building blocks at the JFF headquarters.
if 27.5 k people shows up how much will we gain ?
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The JFF most likely have a deal like this:
The AFA pays for our travel and housing in Argentina plus a small appearance fee around US$30K, I am guess here. The JFF could then ask for 25% of the gate receipts.
It is a significant amount of travel but if I was a promoter, I would hedge my chances on 30K Argentines attend in Feb. than less than 15k in the harsh winter of New York or London.
Now how about Korea Republic or Greece in London or Kingston?
