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Mission possible!
Burrell salutes Whitmore’s team as WC preparation takes shape
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Thursday, April 19, 2012
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JAMAICA'S football boss, Captain Horace Burrell, believes the national programme possesses the required technical minds and footballing talent to guide the nation to another senior FIFA World Cup Finals.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, who on Sunday announced he backed out of running for the CFU top job to fully focus on the Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign, said head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore and his team have the full support of the Federation and its board of directors.
[Hide Description] Jamaica’s Joel Senior dribbles away from Costa Rica’s Jairo Arrieta during their friendly international at the National Stadium on Wednesday, March 21. The game ended 0-0. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) [Restore Description] 1/1
"The Jamaican public can feel very confident in the coaching and playing talent available for the campaign. We have seen very steady and fundamental growth in the development of the programme and the technical leadership has demonstrated very good judgement in the way they have prosecuted the project," noted Burrell, who remains an executive member of CONCACAF's ruling committee.
"We are also excited with both the foreign and local talent and the future is indeed looking very bright," he added.
Looking back, this is the first time in a spell that Jamaica were entering crucial World Cup qualifiers without a foreign coach at the helm, and this, Burrell boasts, is a telling indication the belief placed in the Whitmore-led team in taking the technical programme to the next level.
"Coach Whitmore has matured beyond the expectation of many. The support he has received from the Federation through the international courses he has been exposed to and the experienced coaches he has under-studied have served to validate the JFF's confidence in his capacity to lead the World Cup Qualifying campaign.
"Whitmore's selection of coach (Alfredo) Montesso was a brilliant choice and demonstrated maturity and self-confidence on his part. He will also be well supported by the very experienced Brazilian technical director, Professor Walter Gama, among others," said Burrell.
He added he was satisfied with the chemistry between staff and players and "indeed we have a good team behind the team".
In a bid to dispel claims that Whitmore does not enjoy full autonomy in team selection and that he faces interference from the hierachy of the Federation in this process, Burrell said: "Coach Whitmore has always had full autonomy in team selection and he and his staff enjoys the confidence of the JFF."
Whitmore, Jamaica's two-goal hero in a 2-1 win over Japan at the France 1998 World Cup Finals, entered the national programme as a young and inexperienced coach but is thought to have made quantum leaps in his technical development in a short time.
Burrell, a newly appointed member of FIFA's Olympic Tournaments Committee, told the Jamaica Observer that the technical agenda of the 'Mission to Rio' campaign appears to be meeting core goals.
"The JFF is very confident about the development of the team and the work that commenced in 2009 in rebuilding and refocusing has already begun to take shape," he noted.
Burrell outlined that over the course of the past months, the programme has changed shape to facilitate new approaches and thinking by a dynamic team.
"The technical staff has redesigned the preparation with a focus on international friendlies as a critical element. Consequently, we will not be staging a training camp in Brazil but instead are actively finalising (local) camps around the international games," Burrell explained.
Since the start of the year and faced with a downsized FIFA calendar for international matches, the Boyz have been able to play four friendlies, with three more to come before the team bows into World Cup qualifying action against Guatemala at 'The Office' on June 8.
"We have been able to organise a series of international friendlies despite the very limited FIFA international match dates during the first five months of the year... these games would prove very beneficial for the local talent and also for the preparation of our team going into the qualifiers," outlined the visionary leader behind Jamaica's five appearances at various men's age-group World Cup.
In February alone the Boyz played three matches, where they were victorious against Cuba (1-0 and 3-0) in a two-game series in Jamaica and then journeying to Auckland to face New Zealand, winning 3-2.
In March they had one game against Central American outfit Costa Rica, which ended goal-less at the National Stadium.
Three warm-up games are scheduled before the June 8 World Cup qualifying opener -- on May 18 they face Guyana in Montego Bay before hosting Panama at 'The Office' nine days later.
On June 1, the Boyz tackle Panama in that country for the likely curtain-call on their pre-tournament preparation.
"These three matches will also provide preparation for the UK-based players in particular, since they will be out of competition. We do expect some of the new recruits to be available for these games," Burrell said.
Among those who should be free to play roles in the upcoming matches are Ricardo Fuller, Claude Davis, Omar Daley, Damian Stewart, Keammar Daley, Christopher Humphrey (debut), Nathan Smith annd Marlon King.
The veteran football executive thinks that while the technical staff has established its core squad for the World Cup campaign, equally important is an ongoing programme to deepen and broaden the squad for future reference.
"The core of the team has been established, but we have to continue improving on the general squad. Experiences garnered from previous campaigns demand that we deepen the pool with quality and not only quantity, as consideration must be given towards injuries, loss of form, suspensions from cards, etc," Burrell concluded.
The signs are that the promise of improving the player pool will be upheld. I do think we have the base of a strong team but I feel that we have had a few gaps that needed to be filled and the signs are, that those gaps will be filled before the wcq start.
I am so optimistic right now. Trust me, I havent been so excited about our chances in a long time. Things are looking good now.
The signs are that the promise of improving the player pool will be upheld. I do think we have the base of a strong team but I feel that we have had a few gaps that needed to be filled and the signs are, that those gaps will be filled before the wcq start.
I am so optimistic right now. Trust me, I haven't been so excited about our chances in a long time. Things are looking good now.
RB I'm optimistic too, but a ca get excited till a hear that McAnuff on his way to emigration. And I will blow my top when Holiett say yes to the R'Boyz.
However the optimism of the JFF & tappa is contagious a ca blame yo RB.
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Reggae Boyz leaving it late... Final team selection for World Cup qualifiers must come soon
Kwesi Mugisa, Commentary
Whitmore
With the FIFA World Cup qualifiers just a little over a month away it has become quite alarming that Jamaica's Reggae Boyz seem yet to have decided on a first team squad.
While it is not unusual for any team preparing to qualify for a World Cup to be taking a look at several players, at this point in the campaign, perhaps even for multiple positions, one would not expect that with the team hosting Guatemala on June 8 there would be so many wholesale changes being made.
Just recently three new players Chris Humphrey of Motherwell, Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and 31-year-old defender Nyron Nosworthy, who also plies his trade for Watford, have been called up to the squad. The players are expected to feature against Guyana when the team next takes the field while
they may be quality players, such constant shifting, chopping and changing ahead of a major tournament can be a major hurdle for a team looking to build team chemistry. Although it is not the only factor that goes towards a team's success, few could argue that it is not one of the major ones. In the 1998 campaign, Jamaica's only successful attempt to qualify for the World Cup, many believe chemistry was a key ingredient in their historic achievement.
qualification
Surely, one must appreciate that national coach Theodore Whitmore will want to see as much talent as possible, and with players like Marlon King, Jermaine Johnson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Omar Daley still on the fringes, he must be having somewhat of a selection headache. However, at some point the door must be closed as the team settles down for a difficult but possible qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Still Whitmore cannot be blamed entirely as the the team was forced to sit out a three-month period last year, following the suspension of JFF boss captain Horace Burrell by FIFA, in the fallout of the infamous cash-for-votes scandal. During this period several of the teams around the region played quite a few games and the effects of this lull may yet prove costly. Of course, the unavailability of several players for these friendlies based on the fact that the matches fall outside of the FIFA friendly international dates has also been a problem.
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Fair enough analyst, but as you said the (3) month ban was a factor. Also, we wasted too much time with the local in every game you have certain players in the squad and locked out some potentials! So JFF is not without blame here or Tappa. The media in Jamaica is also responsible as they have not brought about pressure on the powers that be to include foreign players that want to represent JAMAICA!! They have fueled the debate or foolish reasoning that local players can cut the bill in international games all the time. If they play in a D2 league what are they going to put up against professional teams with players playing in the top or best leagues in the world?
A set a slow thinkers! ONE JAMAICA! Not some a yard and some abroad!Jermaine Johnson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Omar Daley are indeed on the fringes but I think Omar Daley will get in on the squad. JJ inability to run back makes him a liability and he had all these years to correct that and he has not so he has no one to blame but himself. Campbell-Ryce refuses to let go the ball sometimes and he had his time to correct that , but he too has failed to do himself much good. Marlon King is in like it or not, he has always proved he is worth it all the time. He never fails to score or is a constant thereat for us. Him and the forward crew have a keen tussle to decide who will make it and who will start each game.
We are ONLY missing McAnuff in the middle and Tappa will have to sort out the combination that he wishes to use int he midfield as we have ample and and really good players there. Again, combination is the key factor on how we will utilize them.
_________________________
Give me half a chance and I'll make it one
I saw Hoilett's goal, it was unbelievable. I hope he is in the squad or that McAnuff is because with the new editions I think that creativity in the middle of midfield and somebody who can create and score goals from the attacking midfield position is all we are lacking with the new editions to the squad. Jamatl I fully agree that its a joke that the 1st team squad hasn't been decided yet. At this stage we should have the 1st team decided and the squad bar 1 or 2 places. We shouldve brought in the new editions and had everything ready at the Gold cup. Germany fielded a new team of novices at the last euro's, gave them the experience of playing together under pressure and then it paid off 2 years later in south Africa where they performed brilliantly. We shouldve used the Gold cup in the same way but instead we have left it until the last minute which is unprofessional and not at all helpful. I am still very confident now though but things shouldve been handled better for sure
The only time I've ever seen Demar really fail us is that period where Simoes came back and tried to reinvent the wheel by playing people like Woodbine (beckham) and Evan Taylor. Demar played ok (and scored I think) against Canada, then after that was a bloody disaster until Tappa took over. In Mexico and Honduras he couldn't even control a ball properly. BUT if that's the only time he's played badly, then he's been remarkable consistent and I think he'd make a good team leader.
Reggae Boyz leaving it late... Final team selection for World Cup qualifiers must come soon
Kwesi Mugisa, Commentary
Whitmore
With the FIFA World Cup qualifiers just a little over a month away it has become quite alarming that Jamaica's Reggae Boyz seem yet to have decided on a first team squad.
While it is not unusual for any team preparing to qualify for a World Cup to be taking a look at several players, at this point in the campaign, perhaps even for multiple positions, one would not expect that with the team hosting Guatemala on June 8 there would be so many wholesale changes being made.
Just recently three new players Chris Humphrey of Motherwell, Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and 31-year-old defender Nyron Nosworthy, who also plies his trade for Watford, have been called up to the squad. The players are expected to feature against Guyana when the team next takes the field while
they may be quality players, such constant shifting, chopping and changing ahead of a major tournament can be a major hurdle for a team looking to build team chemistry. Although it is not the only factor that goes towards a team's success, few could argue that it is not one of the major ones. In the 1998 campaign, Jamaica's only successful attempt to qualify for the World Cup, many believe chemistry was a key ingredient in their historic achievement.
qualification
Surely, one must appreciate that national coach Theodore Whitmore will want to see as much talent as possible, and with players like Marlon King, Jermaine Johnson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Omar Daley still on the fringes, he must be having somewhat of a selection headache. However, at some point the door must be closed as the team settles down for a difficult but possible qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Still Whitmore cannot be blamed entirely as the the team was forced to sit out a three-month period last year, following the suspension of JFF boss captain Horace Burrell by FIFA, in the fallout of the infamous cash-for-votes scandal. During this period several of the teams around the region played quite a few games and the effects of this lull may yet prove costly. Of course, the unavailability of several players for these friendlies based on the fact that the matches fall outside of the FIFA friendly international dates has also been a problem.
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I can understand Mugisa's concern and probably the concern of more out there. If he has being following Jamaica's football since the Gold Cup of last year, particularly the game against the USA it's evident we need help in some key areas. Even a friendly match against Columbia in September and another not long ago in Honduras further re-enforces the fact that against strong opponents we lack that extra punch in our attack, and lack a defensive stoutness in denying teams when the game is on the line.
Yes, the JFF have dropped the ball in waiting too long to bring in certain technical players they had identified even before the Gold Cup. And after the the Gold Cup more time was wasted, indecisive of what they wanted to do and the direction to go in.
So here we are left with a feeling of cautious anticipation as to the work to be done in a short space of time before the qualifiers to get the team ready. If there's a little consolation to this unnerving situation is that we stand a better chance against the first two opponents in June, while there's a few months of prep time for the USA come September.
In no way am I saying we'll overrun Guate & Antigua in June. With all the expected changes in our line up there's a bit of uncertain there. However they are not difficult opponents to deal with.
The two friendlies against Panama are a God send. a strong opponent whom we will meet if we both make it to the HEX. The coaches will have to do double duty to assess and mesh this team in these two friendlies. It's imperative that we do well against Panama cause a major slip up will not bode well for our confidence with only a few days later to June 8.
Things may not look as good as we the fans had wanted it, but we ca turn dong dem ya re-enforcement ya.
What the ites need to remember is that the June qualifiers is only the START of the WC qualifying campaign...if Jamaica can get decent results in the first 2 games then there is time to work with the squad in preparation for the tougher games ahead.
With what is looking like the core of an excellent squad, there is no need to panic that the best players are being called up late because there is time to integrate those players for the really tough away games, particularly against the USA and Guatemala, not to underestimate Antigua.
The important thing is that the right players are being looked at, based on the weaker areas of Jamaica's squad and game right now....there's more reason to be optimistice now than before.
Jamaica should have been looking to strengthen the team after the DCC tournament, a tournament, which, in winning, seemd to have lulled Tappa and the JFF bosses into some false sense of where Jamaica stood in quality, until we were rudely awakened by the USA at the GC...Jamaica could have done better against the USA...it was not that the USA was that much better a team but that Jamaica overestimated how good a team they thought they were...and played directly into the hands of the USA.
If Jamaica does not repeat this mistake this time around, I can see no reason why Jamaica should not comfortably qualify for the Hexagon round of WC qualifying and push on from there.
Ideally we would have a full strength team at the start of the campaign but I agree Ric, we have time before the real tests come. Creativity in midfield is the weakness of the current group, a problem we didn't have when we were last successful but there is reason to be optimistic. The defence was the other main weakness but that problem appears to have been addressed now which is a major reason for my optimism. Currently I think we have a decent chance of success but with the addition of some creativity in midfield I believe we would be one of the strong favourites for qualification so there is reason to be looking forward to this campaign definitely
Ideally we would have a full strength team at the start of the campaign but I agree Ric, we have time before the real tests come. Creativity in midfield is the weakness of the current group, a problem we didn't have when we were last successful but there is reason to be optimistic. The defence was the other main weakness but that problem appears to have been addressed now which is a major reason for my optimism. Currently I think we have a decent chance of success but with the addition of some creativity in midfield I believe we would be one of the strong favourites for qualification so there is reason to be looking forward to this campaign definitely
Totally agree with you here TB.
When Tappa and Bomba Williams were at their peak, Jamaica had the equal of anything in CONCACAF in the creative midfield department...and have struggled massively to replace that ever since those two reached their shelf-life and retirement age...even now, at 35 or 36, Andy Williams could probably do a job for Jamaica if he was so inclined but he is adamant, and quite rightly so, that his competitive football days are firmly behind him.
Jamaica has potential in this area of the team now too, with the yute Dada Daley being the best prospect right now, regardless of the fact that he has not done as well at Preston North End as we would all have hoped...I still see him as an integral part of a very strong Jamaica side...I would not hesitate to pick him in a strong Jamaica line-up to provide that creative spark and I don't think Tappa will either...look to Dada to play a huge part in this WC qualifying campaign.
Also, this is where Hoillett and McAnuff comes into the picture in a very important way as well...both can attack and create and have been doing it all season in England...and with moving Fuller back into the midfield as an option, I think Jamaica will be ok if all the pieces to the puzzle can be put on the table.
Everyone has been creating excitement about Jobi McAnuff. If he's such a brilliant player how comes he didnt make the Championship Team of the year?
He is a very good player. I have watched him a lot over the last few years, and he can be a solid contributor the the Boyz. The Championship had some excellent performers this year, and his missing out on being selected is no big problem. He was essential to Reading's excellent promotion-earning season. Let's stop pretending that Jamaica is a production line of big ballas.
McAnuff leads by example - McDermott Mon, 23 Apr 2012
Reading manager Brian McDermott has heaped praise on captain Jobi McAnuff for his influence in Reading's npower Championship title charge.
The Royals were guaranteed to go up to the Barclays Premier League as champions after Middlesbrough beat Southampton on Saturday evening, and McDermott is delighted McAnuff will have the chance to shine on the biggest stage of all.
He told Sky Sports' Goals On Sunday: "I'm so pleased for my captain, Jobi, to make it into the Premier League.
"People questioned putting a winger as my captain but being a past member of the wingers' union, I thought he could do the job and he has grown as a guy and as a player.
"He is vocal and leads by example. He plays games and gets injuries but he gets on with no fuss. He always puts in a shift for the team, has real quality and is really popular.
"I always think the best team manages themselves, and this team manage themselves - they've got great resilience, character and ability - and they're just great people."
Everyone has been creating excitement about Jobi McAnuff. If he's such a brilliant player how comes he didnt make the Championship Team of the year?
He's captain of the NPower Championship champions and has lead his team into the Premiereship...what more honour or recognition does he need than that ?
Select teams are as much about politics as anything else and if Jobi and Reading had to choose between being champions and being selected to some hpothetical 'team-of-the-season', I have no doubt which they would choose.
Everyone in England knows he's been one of the very best players in the Championship this season and he has a champion's trophy to prove it.
I do understand the question of why did Jobi not make the championship team of the year if he's so good. Clint Dempsey was without question the best midfield player in the premier league this season and trust me that cannot be questioned and he wasn't in the premier league team of the year. Some players attract more media attention than others but Jobi is a good player and all the commentaters and pundits that know him all say that. Iain Dowie for eg said the other day that Reading don't need to overhaul their 1st team because they have players good enough for the premier league and Kebe and McAnuff were 2 players he mentioned as being ggod enough to be a real threat at premier league level and Dowie knows McAnuff well because he managed him at crystal palace. I have watched McAnuff for years and know that he has a lot of ability and will bring a lot to the creativity of our team no doubt. Ric you are absolutely right, McAnuff captained his team to the real prize which is premier league football
"I too am buzzing with excitement, that excitement will be amplified when i see these ace players in JA colours! In as far as Burrel's suspension is concerned! that is a poor excuse for an organization that is trusted with taking us to Brazil, so there was no body else Qualified to step in temporarily? ah! ;)so this is a Burrel show, and this is why we suffer and can not make progress like this things must change".
I do understand the question of why did Jobi not make the championship team of the year if he's so good. Clint Dempsey was without question the best midfield player in the premier league this season and trust me that cannot be questioned and he wasn't in the premier league team of the year. Some players attract more media attention than others but Jobi is a good player and all the commentaters and pundits that know him all say that. Iain Dowie for eg said the other day that Reading don't need to overhaul their 1st team because they have players good enough for the premier league and Kebe and McAnuff were 2 players he mentioned as being ggod enough to be a real threat at premier league level and Dowie knows McAnuff well because he managed him at crystal palace. I have watched McAnuff for years and know that he has a lot of ability and will bring a lot to the creativity of our team no doubt. Ric you are absolutely right, McAnuff captained his team to the real prize which is premier league football
As I've already said, RB, these 'select teams' are as much a matter of politics as anything else...they mean absolutrly nothing except giving players some respect for their outstanding performances for a season.
I watched Robin Van Persie in person against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week and it only confirmed what I've seen from him all season...Player of the Year IMO, long before he was chosen by the PFA.
The Football Writers award might go to entirely someone else...
Clint Demsey is 'Merican, is an ugly, bug-eyed, pesky, nasty little shit of a very, very good footballer...
Of course 'e 'aint' gonna get picked to no select team of the year !
MOREFIRE, I was talking about the best midfield player in their performance this season in the premier league not who is the best midfield player full stop. I agree with you that Y.Toure is the best all round midfield player because he can Defend, he is strong, good in the air, quick, has good technique and composure and he can score goals so I agree in a way. The point I was making was about Dempsey performing best of all the midfielders in England this season and still not making the EPL best 11 in relation to McAnuff not making the championship 11. I would cuss Gerrard but I'm gonna keep this about our team and say that the level of belief is rising on the forum. There are still doubters which I understand but its nice to see so much positivity and belief ahead of a world cup campaign. I am buzzing too Marklon and I'm not talking about the effects of 'erb, I really believe we will make us all proud in this campaign. Qualifying will be very difficult but I fully believe we have a great chance this time around and WE CAN QUALIFY, I FULLY BELIEVE WE CAN NOW.
a poor excuse for an organization that is trusted with taking us to Brazil, so there was no body else Qualified to step in temporarily? ah! ;)so this is a Burrel show, and this is why we suffer and can not make progress like this things must change".
