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It's a big one, says Burrell Published: Tuesday | February 9, 2010
Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor -Sports
Captain Horace Burrell ... The JFF has been able to pull off what to many was an impossible task. - File
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina:
The Reggae Boyz matchup against giants Argentina is being branded as "one of the biggest moments in the life of Jamaica's football".
So said Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), in an interview yesterday at the hotel in Mar Del Plata where the Jamaica team is based.
"This is one of the biggest moments in the life of Jamaica's football ... to have been invited to Argentina and to have had Argentina pay for the airfares and all the other costs.
"It's a tremendously important moment for Jamaica," Burrell said.
The Reggae Boyz are ranked at 78 by FIFA, a whopping 70 places below the eighth-ranked South Americans, who have twice won the World Cup (1978, 1986).
"Argentina are one of the strongest teams in the world, one which could go all the way in the World Cup. A team with the pedigree of Argentina inviting little Jamaica to play a friendly is certainly an honour and one which will be cherished by all," added Burrell of the country coached by one of the game's greats, Diego Maradona. The team also has Lionel Messi, the current World Player of the Year.
Messi, who represents world and European club champions Barcelona, of Spain, won't play in tomorrow's match, as well as a number of his top teammates.
Jamaica will also be missing a number of their top internationals, and Burrell said this game represents a grand occasion for those on hand.
"Our players, on Wednesday, will be afforded one of the greatest opportunities of their football career, to play against Argentina in Argentina. The JFF has been able to pull off what to many was an impossible task. But having arranged the game, now the players must go and do the rest," noted Burrell.
Good performance
"They have a responsibility to get out there and to do their best, to perform well on the pitch and understand that the world will be watching this game," he added. "A good performance in this game is going to open several other doors for the Jamaican football programme in time to come."
Burrell continued: "We have been very fortunate and all of this happened because of my personal relationship with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona. I have always been asking him to allow his team to play against Jamaica and it is something I've been working on for years and it has come true. Not only has this game happened, in the past when we have visited Brazil and Argentina, we had to pay our way, pay hotel accommodation, pay for training (grounds) and all of that."
The JFF has held training camps in the big South American footballing countries - Brazil and Argentina - prior to this, with Jamaica touring Argentina back in 1997, when they were preparing for the 1998 World Cup Finals in France. However, it has always come at a cost.
"Today, I have lived to see the Reggae Boyz come of age where we have come to Argentina where all airfares, hotel accommodation and to top it all off, a match fee, albeit a small match fee of US$20,000, is what the AFA has agreed," Burrell pointed out. "This is unheard of and, therefore, I want all of Jamaica to realise what is about to happen on Wednesday."
Leave it to Burrel to over sell. Its 2010 and world football is moving to more parity. The joke is on you if your team hasnt improved over the last 10 years! Nothing that big about this match! And as far as I know, the home team typically picks up the expenses plus a match fee for the visiting team. Nothing to crow about on that ...
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Burrell urges Boyz to lift game against Argentina
IIAANN BBUURRNNEETTTT WITH THE REGGAE BOYZ in Argentina
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell has charged his Jamaican players to give of their best when they face the mighty Argentina in a friendly international here tomorrow night.
The Reggae Boyz face the two-time World Cup champions here in the resort town of Mar del Plata at the Jose Minela stadium at 10:30 pm (8:30 pm Jamaica time), with head coach Diego Maradona using the opportunity to search for players to fill his World Cup Finals 23-man roster.
"Our players, on Wednesday, will be afforded one of the greatest opportunities of their football careers to play against Argentina in Argentina," said Captain Burrell at the team's hotel, just prior to their penultimate training session at the Kimberley Atletico Club.
He added: "The JFF has been able to pull off what to many (people) was an impossible task, but having arranged the game, now the players must go and do the rest... they have a responsibility to get out there and to do their best, to perform well on the pitch and understand that the world will be watching this game.
"A good performance in this game is going to open several other doors for the Jamaican football programme in time to come," the JFF boss said in a serious tone.
Captain Burrell, a Caribbean Football Union vice-president and FIFA Disciplinary Committee member, was quick to point out that he was not being irrational by demanding a victory over the eighth-ranked FIFA team, but only that the players perform to the best of their abilities.
"Not many small teams would have got an opportunity like this and all I ask for is for players to recognise the importance of this game from a number of standpoints and give it our best. We have to understand that we are talking about one of the best teams in the world and we are not saying that we are going to go there and beat up on Argentina, but let us understand where we are at... I expect a good performance from every single player on that team."
Shortly before departing the Argentina Football Association (AFA) headquarters in Buenos Aires on Sunday for the five-hour bus ride to Mar del Plata, Captain Burrell reiterated the importance of the game to the country's football programme.
Yesterday he could not help but repeat his charge.
"It's a tremendously important moment for Jamaica, but the game aside, first of all let us put things in perspective... for Argentina, who are currently World Cup bound, to invite Jamaica who didn't qualify for the World Cup and who are ranked where we are, to be considered is a tremendous honour and I'm not sure many people recognise what is really happening."
And Captain Burrell took pride in offering that the Jamaican football programme has come full circle.
"We have been very fortunate and all of this happened because of my personal relationship with the AFA's president Julio Grondona... I have always been asking him to allow his team to play against Jamaica and it is something I've been working on for years and it has come true. Not only has this game happened, in the past when we have visited Brazil and Argentina, we had to pay our way, pay hotel accommodation, pay for training and all of that... today I have lived to see the Reggae Boyz come of age where we have come to Argentina where all airfares, hotel accommodation and to top it all off, a match fee, albeit a small match fee of US$20,000 is what the AFA has agreed.
"This is unheard of and therefore I want all of Jamaica to realise what is about o happen on Wednesday."
Maradona assembled his team at the AFA Headquarters yesterday following Sunday's round of matches, while the Jamaicans were taken through their paces in a scrimmage games for about an hour on an artificial surface, while yesterday they worked out until nightfall at the Kimberley Atletico Club.
They are scheduled to practise at the match venue today
Good luck boyz, Argentina only chose to play us now because we are wounded and they want to use us a beating stick to make themselves feel better about themselves.
I hope we do them no favors and ensure that when we leave, we can walk with our heads held high, if we are to lose, let them work extremely hard to earn it and if there is any hint of victory even if it is just a flicker, please fight hard to get it.
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Reggae Boyz a hit in Argentina Audley Boyd, Associate Editor - Sports
Reggae Boyz assistant coach Bradley Stewart (left) gives an attentive eye to members of the national squad during their training session at St George's College recently, ahead of their friendly international against Argentina tomorrow night. - Ricardo Makyn
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina:
It didn't matter that the Reggae Boyz are here to play against their national team. As they emerged from the bus on their way back from training, man, woman and child, young and old gathered by the hundreds to greet the Jamaicans in front of the Hermitage Hotel where they are based in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, yesterday.
From a hug, for a real camera moment, down to a handshake, or even a touch, it seemed anything would do for the natives of the football-mad country against whom Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will do battle in a friendly international football match at the José Minella Stadium at 10:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. Jamaica time) tomorrow.
Though surprised, the Boyz duly obliged under the watchful eyes of the police and security personnel, as they made their way through the thick, but happy crowd.
soaking up the moment
One of the players even had time to joke that goalkeeper Dwayne Miller was soaking up the moment too much, "posing for too long instead of just taking each picture and moving on quickly".
Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell - who was one of the first making his way through the crowd - wasn't complaining, no one was.
Such lovely greeting was a real nice letdown to a hard training session the Boyz had to endure on a cool evening that had left head coach Theodore Whitmore somewhat pleased.
"Yesterday, we had a nice little blowout, a good training session. The players showed a lot of effort, a lot of enthusiasm," he noted of their first practice on Sunday, barely an hour after a near 26-hour journey by plane and bus.
"This evening we saw a more game-like situation training session and it has gone down well," Whitmore added. "We wanted to keep possession of the football and we wanted to close down our opponents more quickly and try to be more compact."
Were you pleased?
"In some sort of way - It was 11 against seven, but I'm somewhat pleased. Not all the areas we were satisfied with. Some of the areas we will walk through it tomorrow."
Specifically, the coach seemed most concerned about their transitional play, something that was not easily simulated due to the travelling numbers of an 18-man squad.
"I guess in midfield," Whitmore said, noting his concerns. "I guess because we didn't have a lot of players in midfield, we got the football and just broke away, I don't want that; and the defensive area, I don't think we came up quick enough in transition."
With a training session remaining this evening and another light one scheduled for the morning of the matchday, the coach wasn't quite ready to list his starting 11. But if the line-up in bibs is an indication, then goalkeeper Miller should start with Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Taylor and Adrian Reid his shield; backed up by Rodolph Austin, Richard Edwards, Lovel Palmer, Keammar Daley and Navion Boyd; operating behind Omar Cummings and Ryan Johnson.
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MLS Reggae Boyz to face Argentina by Ridge Mahoney, February 8th, 2010 10PM
[JAMAICA] Four MLS players were summoned by the Jamaican soccer federation to play for Jamaica in a friendly Wednesday against Argentina in Mar del Plata.
Omar Cummings (Colorado), Ryan Johnson (San Jose), Dane Richards (New York) and Shavar Thomas (Philadelphia) were named to the squad by Coach Theodore Whitmore, whose team beat Canada, 1-0, Jan. 31 with a goal by Luton Shelton (Valerenga, Norway) in Kingston. Cummings assisted on Shelton’s goal.
Sheldon and Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall are among the foreign-based Jamaican players not called up by Whitmore to face Argentina.
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David vs Goliath! Boyz tackle mighty Argentines in friendly
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Head coach Theodore Whitmore will have a good idea of just where the Reggae Boyz band is when they face Argentina in a friendly international here at the Jose Maria Minella Stadium at 10:30 pm (8:30 pm Jamaica time) today.
At stake will be the Copa Loteria de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, or the Buenos Aires Province Lottery Cup, and while both sides will be without their first-string players, that represents the only similarities between two teams, who are at different ends of the global football ladder.
Reggae Boyz going through their paces at the Kimberley Atletico Club yesterday. (Photo: Ian Burnett) Reggae Boyz going through their paces at the Kimberley Atletico Club yesterday. (Photo: Ian Burnett) 1/1
For Argentina and their mercurial coach Diego Maradona, it is the continued search for players to complete the 23-man roster for this summer's South Africa World Cup Finals, while for Whitmore, it is a chance to identify players for the future.
"Yesterday (Sunday) we had a nice little blowout, a good training session. The players showed a lot of effort, a lot of enthusiasm," beamed Whitmore on Monday night.
"This evening (Monday) we saw a more game-like situation training session and it has gone down well.
"We wanted to keep possession of the football and we wanted to close down our opponents more quickly and try to be more compact," he added.
The former Reggae Boy said he was pleased with the first two days of training, though he had some areas of concern.
"In some sort of way," responded Whitmore to queries about his feedback on the players' efforts. "It was 11 against seven, but I'm somewhat pleased... Not all the areas we were satisfied with. Some of the areas we will walk through it tomorrow (yesterday)."
He identified the midfield as an area where he was not totally happy, but he put to down to just indiscipline on the part of the starting team due to the difference in numbers on the pitch.
The supposed starting team had 11 players, while the other side had seven, and that allowed players on the starting team to charge away from their positions, something that did not go down well with the coach.
He also noted that the defensive unit was slow in transition from defence to attack, but he had hoped to walk the players through it at the game's venue last evening, only to be told yesterday that his team couldn't train at the match venue because it was "under construction".
As a result, the team held their last session at the Kimberley Atletico Club, but a promise to "walk" the Jose Maria Minella Stadium afterwards was never materialised as the delegation was given another frivolous reason by the organisers.
But following his final training session yesterday, Whitmore said his players had had a better understanding of the roles and functions that he requires for today's game.
As a result, Dwayne Miller will start in goal, backed by a three-man defence of Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Taylor and Adrian Reid.
The four-man midfield will be marshalled by Richard Edwards and Rodolph Austin, flanked by Lovel Palmer on the right and Navion Boyd on the left.
Keammar Daley, Omar Cummings and Ryan Johnson will form the three-pronged attack.
And despite the match-up looking like the proverbial 'David vs Goliath', Whitmore can't wait for it to happen.
"In the past we've played against big teams and people were expressing similar sentiments, (of a massive defeat), and we drew that game. What I know about the Jamaica team is that we want to play against the big teams. I'm more concerned about playing against the Caribbean teams."
Meanwhile, Maradona had his only training session at the Argentina Football Association (AFA) headquarters at 11:30 am (9:30 am Jamaica time) yesterday, and his team was scheduled to fly into Mar del Plata at 9:30 last night after which he was scheduled to call a press conference at the team's hotel, a few blocks away from the Hermitage Hotel.
The Argentine idol, who led the South American country to World Cup glory in Mexico in 1986, has included six first-time players who are from Mar del Plata.
And on Monday, he called up Fabian Monzon to replace the injured Lucas Licht of Racing, who underwent an operation below his right knee.
The number brings the total to 101 players in 16 matches who Maradona has called to the squad since assuming leadership of the team in November 2008.
The officials for the game are Peruvians, Victor Hugo (referee), Winston Reategui Vela and Cesar Escano Zambrano (assistant referees) and Diego Abal (fourth official).
The Jamaican squad is completed by DuWayne Kerr, Demar Stewart, Dicoy Williams, Jason Johnson, Devon Hodges, Jevaughn Watson and Dane Richards.
Argentine squad: Goalkeepers Nelson Ibanez (Godoy Cruz), Cristian Campestrini (Arsenal); Defenders: Matias Caruzzo (Argentinos Juniors), Ignacio Canuto (Argentinos Juniors), Leonel Galeano (Independiente), Mariano Echeverria (Chacarita Juniors), Gabriel Mercado (Racing Club); Midfielders: Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Federico Insua (Boca Juniors), Jesus Mendez (Boca Juniors), Walter Acevedo (Independiente), Patricio Toranzo (Huracan) and Monzan; Forwards: Martin Palermo (Boca juniors), Nicolas Gaitan (Boca Juniors), Gabriel Hauche (Racing), Franco Jara (Arsenal), Claudio Bieler (Racing).
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Tough task for Reggae Boyz Published: Wednesday | February 10, 2010
Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport
Left: Keammar Daley,. Right: Shavar Thomas ... will lead Boyz. file
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina:
THE Argentines aren't fielding their best team. And neither are the Jamaicans. Yet, the expectations remain the same: a big win for the South Americans.
True to their spirit, the Reggae Boyz will be looking to counter such belief when they tackle football giants Argentina in a real David vs Goliath friendly international showdown for the Copa Loteria de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Lottery Trophy).
"First of all, I believe it's a tremendous opportunity to play Argentina," said Jamaica's captain, Shavar Thomas. "This doesn't come everyday. No matter who they bring they will be good and we're very prepared and ready for the challenge.
"We see this as man against man as opposed to the world football power Argentina vs Jamaica," Thomas added.
The clash takes place at the José Marilla Minella Stadium in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, at 10:15 p.m. (8:15 p.m. Jamaica time).
Caribbean champions
Jamaica won their last game 1-0 against Canada at the National Stadium two Sundays ago, while Argentina beat Costa Rica 3-2 here in their last game, last month.
Argentina, the two-time champions and almost a permanent fixture at the World Cup Finals, are ranked eighth in the world. Jamaica, the Caribbean champions, have made it to the World Cup Finals once - 1998 in France.
In France, they contested their last international meeting at senior level and the South Americans emerged with a huge win, 5-0 on a hat-trick from big forward Gabriel Batistuta and a double from midfielder Ariel Ortega.
Then, both teams had pretty much their best talent. Today, it is far from the same as both seek pointers for selections geared towards their World Cup programme, which is at contrasting junctures.
Having missed out on 2010 qualifying for South Africa on goal difference to Mexico at CONCACAF's semi-final group phase, Jamaica, with head coach Theodore Whitmore and his assistant Bradley Stewart, currently seek potential for a pool to lead the charge for a place in the 2014 championship.
The Jamaicans arrived on Sunday after a 26-hour travel schedule. They did light training the same evening, and went through other practice sessions Monday and Tuesday nights.
Whitmore was not too worried about the lingering effects of their travels, but appeared more concerned with their transitional play when moving into attack.
Training session
"This evening we saw a more game-like situation training session and it has gone down well," Whitmore noted after training on Monday night. "We wanted to keep possession of the football and we wanted to close down our opponents more quickly and try to be more compact."
He added: "Not all the areas we were satisfied with ... I guess in midfield," he said, noting his concerns. "I guess because we didn't have a lot of players in midfield, we got the football and just broke away, I don't want that; and the defensive area, I don't think we came up quick enough in transition."
With a high-calibre team that was expected to formalise its place easily, Argentina reacted with last-gasp efforts to secure a spot at the 11th hour for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Head coach Diego Maradona has been quite haphazard in his selections and his picks for this match have swelled the number of players he has drafted in just over a year to over 100.
They had their final training session yesterday morning in Buenos Aires and were due to fly into Mar del Plata near 9 p.m. (7 p.m. Jamaica time) last night.
Only six among Maradona's squad have never been in the national set-up previously.
Veteran striker Martin Palermo, who did himself and the much-criticised Maradona a huge favour by scoring a winner in injury time that practically sealed their spot at the World Cup Finals in their second-to-last qualifier, is one of their biggest names for this Jamaica match-up.
Though six of their squad includes players born in Mar del Plata - a clear marketing ploy - the proliferation of local-based players summoned with World Cup spots beckoning guarantees a high-energy contest.
The situation is no different for Jamaica, with many of this squad's members young and on the fringe of a team that already has several established players, who are also near 23 years and playing professionally in Europe and the United States.
Most of those attached in Europe are unavailable, thus opening the door for a starting place to several local-based stars.
Chief among them are the Tivoli Gardens goalscoring duo of Navion Boyd and Keammar Daley, who have shown potential to create the star attraction necessary to lift the programme.
"It's not everyday you get to play a team like Argentina," said Boyd. "My expectation is to go out there and do my best, hopefully score, but to try and win the game."
Premier League scoring ace Devon Hodges, who continues to produce the goods despite his team's lowly status in the local competition, is sure to figure, while the diminutive and pacy Dane Richards, who is definitely starting material, is very likely to provide offensive spark off the bench.
They will work in tandem with the dangerous and established MLS sharp-shooter, Omar Cummings, a cunning, hard-working striker who beats the ball hard with either foot; as well as belatedly recalled Ryan Johnson, a 25-year-old MLS striker who has been getting goals and looking to play his way into the reckoning following four years of non-selection. Last season, he was voted Most Valuable Player at San José Earthquakes after netting a season-high 11 goals for the MLS outfit.
Central midfield is expected to be patrolled by Richard 'Shortman' Edwards, who is not so established in the team but has shown in top level internationals previously that he possesses a level head and can cope; while the bustling Rodolph Austin is a scoring threat from range and ball-winner who really drives the team, but needs to discharge his energy proportionately for a finely-tuned game.
Quality
That quality, from the team all-round, will be necessary to counteract the skilful, fast-playing style of the Argentinians, who generally attack in numbers.
While the Jamaica team in general is fortified in defence by captain Shavar Thomas, Dicoy Williams, Adrian Reid and the outstanding keeper Dwayne Miller, and will be tested by pace and numbers, the door will certainly be opened for counter-attacking, which could be used by the Boyz as a real weapon.
Argentina Starting XI 1. Nelson Ibañez 2. Gabriel Mercado 3. Leonel Galeano 4. Mariano Echeverria 5. Fabian Monzon 6. John Mercier 7. Walter Acevedo 8. Patricio Toranzo 9. Federico Insua 10. Franco Jara 11. Martin Palermo
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Originally Posted By: LINCOLN
Argentina Starting XI 1. Nelson Ibañez 2. Gabriel Mercado 3. Leonel Galeano 4. Mariano Echeverria 5. Fabian Monzon 6. John Mercier 7. Walter Acevedo 8. Patricio Toranzo 9. Federico Insua 10. Franco Jara 11. Martin Palermo
Thanx , whats Jamaica starting 11? .
Edited by metro (02/10/1007:33 AM)
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