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Whitmore: It’s time to deliver
BY IAN BURNETT Sport Editor
Thursday, June 07, 2012
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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Time to deliver. That's the view of Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, head coach of Jamaica’s national senior football team, the Reggae Boyz, following yesterday’s final major training session at the Montego Bay Sports Complex here in the second city.
“We have the team, we have the goods and we have the ammunition, it is just for us to go out there and deliver,” Whitmore told the Jamaica Observer at the end of the squad match on the well-cut pitch.
[Hide Description] Je-Vaughn Watson (centre) attempts to elude Ewan Grandison (right), while Keammar Daley gives chase during a Reggae Boyz training session at the Montego Bay Sports Complex yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid) [Restore Description] 1/1
“I think it (training session) was positive again, the guys came out and achieved what we set out to achieve... it was excellent and the ground had a lot to do with it as well,” added Whitmore, a former Reggae Boyz captain and twogoal hero at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.
Yesterday’s session followed one on Sunday evening after the team returned to the island from its game against Panama last Friday. There was another practice session at the Noranda Sports Club on Monday, two at the same venue on Tuesday and yesterday’s squad match practice at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Whitmore admitted that the players looked sharp, despite the fact that some of them were carrying slight knocks and niggles. But despite that, Whitmore said he was “a hundred per cent confident” of his team doing the job against Guatemala at the National Stadium tomorrow to kick off their campaign on a winning note.
Dane Richards, who scored against Panama in a losing cause last Friday in Panama City, looked sharp, as did Je-Vaughn Watson, who was on target on a couple of occasions in the session playing from the right side of midfield.
Like the day before at the Noranda Sports Club in St Ann, Demar Phillips sat out the session, still reeling from the effects of a bout of flu, but his coach is unconcerned about his readiness for tomorrow’s assignment.
“For Demar it is just the flu, but he's definitely going to play on Friday, so he'll be okay,” remarked Whitmore.
In the squad match, the likely starting team had the better of the exchange but Whitmore was guarded about the starting team, noting that because of the niggles and knocks, one or two changes could be possible. But he was pleased with the effort given by both sets of players.
“That's what a coach is looking for when you can look at your bench and can call on anyone to go out there and fill that space,” he concluded.
The Boyz are scheduled to travel to Kingston this morning and are set to hold their final training session at the game venue this evening ahead of tomorrow's opening round of the semifinal phase of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying campaign against Guatemala at 8:30 pm.
The other two teams placed in Group A are the United States and Antigua and Barbuda. Following tomorrow's game, the Boyz are set to depart the island on Saturday for the eastern Caribbean island of Antigua, whom they oppose next Tuesday in the second round of qualifiers.
The US will host Antigua and Barbuda tomorrow, before visiting Guatemala next Tuesday.
Winning this game is crucial, also would be good fi get at least 2 clear goals. Goal difference could be a factor. USA, Guatemala and Jamaica ago tek points off Antigua and Barbuda. We know all too well about return legs in Guatemala which can play very important part in qualifying. A&B might get slaughter big time down there. A win and 2 clear goals mi a look for tomorrow.
For now, my country (Guadeloupe) can not take part in qualifying for the World Cup. But as Caribbean supporters, we would like to see a representative of our region in Brazil. Jamaica is our best chance! But the "reggae boyz", have they really the level to qualify? Because after seeing some pictures of their matches played against Guyana and Panama, i think that Jamaica is still far from its level of 1996, 97 and 98! You might be you qualified for the Hex but you won't see Brazil with this play's level!
Thats what I have been saying from last year taht we will go thru to the hex becuase we have guatemala and antigua in the group but thats as far as we will go. I done tell the ites dem aready seh tappa done select him side from the Gold Cup. so all wen man a call certain names mi kno seh dem no get no chance. look on the opportunity given to humphrey and marriappa. U even have some crack head still talking bout gold cup performance. Oh i forgot we beat the mighty grenada and guatemala and got ran over by the world champions usa. Mi a jump pon pele wagon. Costa rica have couple players with Jamaican heritage
_________________________
FORMER President - F.A.A.B.A.C.B(Fans Association Against the Baseless Attack on Captain Burrel)
We've been saying this since the last GC..that's the reason why some of Jamaica's supporters on and off this forum...have been calling for the inclusion of Jamaica's players playing in England...naming them by name...for us they are Jamaica's players, whether they were born in England..or Jamaica.
There's been a very vocal group of supporters, on and off this forum who have been vociferously opposed to any non-Jamaican born player in this team...they couch their oppostion in flowery, conciliatory tones..but their position is clear...dem no waan no UB40s, period.
And they are in their full flow of ectasy now, rejoicing that Marlon King and Chris Humphrey have been sent home....it seems more to me like they're rejoicing that their coach, Tappa, has harkened to their impassioned pleas...NO UB40s PON JAMAICA SIDE !
Well, they have just about gotten their wish...only two players remain in this Jamaica squad who are non-Jamaican born...the two defenders, Nosworthy and Mariappa...the other two have been sent packing...on the flimsiest of excuses. The question remains...is this Jamaica side capable of transcending that GC performance to challenge the USA...and CONCACAF's top dogs ? Forget this fkry that these fans are talking about 'wonderful GC performances because Jamaica beat Grenada, Guatemala and Hondurs...these are teams that that Jamaica side was quite capable of beating...and then what ?
A defining match against a quality opponent, which showed up Jamaica's weaknesses and failings badly.
So, now we're back to square one with basically the same Jamaica side, except for those two defenders of whom, I can guarantee, only one will start against Guatemala on Friday night.
Our coaching genius, the one Tapparino himself, is telling us that this same Jamaica side has improved measurably, when the results since the GC say quite the opposite...
But, come Friday night, we shall all see for ourselves.
Where Jamaica has been exremely short-sighted, as they always are...the JFF I'm speaking of here... is that they have cut off their noses to spite their faces by suspending King and Humphrey for what their own president, the El Cappo Burrell himself, has stated was a'minor infraction' of an 'unwritten rule'; an offense that had any other penalty available than the one the great coach, Tapparino has chosen.
It is clear that he has used this as an excuse to rid himself of two players he did not want around; his reasons are only known to himself.
The bigger picture of shortsightedness is this...this will send a warning message to all of Jamaica's other potential British-born players...and their clubs...YOU ARE NOT VALUED OR WANTED BY THE JAMAICAN NATIONAL TEAM...so if you are wise, you will keep your distance.
So, if the great Tapparino's master plan fails, even at its initial stages, where to does Jamaica turn for solutions ?
I can guarantee all of the opposers of the UB40s on Jamaica's side one thing...forget now about Juniour Hoillett, Darren Pratley or any of the other potential players responding to Jamaica's call, should they desperately need them...
If I was Chris Humphrey, Jamaica need not re-call me but he seems to be a humble yute that might still consider playing for Jamaica, should he be recalled...
We will all now wait and see if the great Tapparino's plan works because...Burrell also sent a veiled warning in this interview to our beloved coach...coaches will have to pay for their mistakes as well...so, my yute Tappa, u betta hope sey Jamaica wins against Guatemala and play well..or else...
Same like Marlon King and Chris Humphrey...U GONE TOO, mi breda.
We've been saying this since the last GC..that's the reason why some of Jamaica's supporters on and off this forum...have been calling for the inclusion of Jamaica's players playing in England...naming them by name...for us they are Jamaica's players, whether they were born in England..or Jamaica.
There's been a very vocal group of supporters, on and off this forum who have been vociferously opposed to any non-Jamaican born player in this team...they couch their oppostion in flowery, conciliatory tones..but their position is clear...dem no waan no UB40s, period.
And they are in their full flow of ectasy now, rejoicing that Marlon King and Chris Humphrey have been sent home....it seems more to me like they're rejoicing that their coach, Tappa, has harkened to their impassioned pleas...NO UB40s PON JAMAICA SIDE !
Well, they have just about gotten their wish...only two players remain in this Jamaica squad who are non-Jamaican born...the two defenders, Nosworthy and Mariappa...the other two have been sent packing...on the flimsiest of excuses. The question remains...is this Jamaica side capable of transcending that GC performance to challenge the USA...and CONCACAF's top dogs ? Forget this [censored] that these fans are talking about 'wonderful GC performances because Jamaica beat Grenada, Guatemala and Hondurs...these are teams that that Jamaica side was quite capable of beating...and then what ?
A defining match against a quality opponent, which showed up Jamaica's weaknesses and failings badly.
So, now we're back to square one with basically the same Jamaica side, except for those two defenders of whom, I can guarantee, only one will start against Guatemala on Friday night.
Our coaching genius, the one Tapparino himself, is telling us that this same Jamaica side has improved measurably, when the results since the GC say quite the opposite...
But, come Friday night, we shall all see for ourselves.
Where Jamaica has been exremely short-sighted, as they always are...the JFF I'm speaking of here... is that they have cut off their noses to spite their faces by suspending King and Humphrey for what their own president, the El Cappo Burrell himself, has stated was a'minor infraction' of an 'unwritten rule'; an offense that had any other penalty available than the one the great coach, Tapparino has chosen.
It is clear that he has used this as an excuse to rid himself of two players he did not want around; his reasons are only known to himself.
The bigger picture of shortsightedness is this...this will send a warning message to all of Jamaica's other potential British-born players...and their clubs...YOU ARE NOT VALUED OR WANTED BY THE JAMAICAN NATIONAL TEAM...so if you are wise, you will keep your distance.
So, if the great Tapparino's master plan fails, even at its initial stages, where to does Jamaica turn for solutions ?
I can guarantee all of the opposers of the UB40s on Jamaica's side one thing...forget now about Juniour Hoillett, Darren Pratley or any of the other potential players responding to Jamaica's call, should they desperately need them...
If I was Chris Humphrey, Jamaica need not re-call me but he seems to be a humble yute that might still consider playing for Jamaica, should he be recalled...
We will all now wait and see if the great Tapparino's plan works because...Burrell also sent a veiled warning in this interview to our beloved coach...coaches will have to pay for their mistakes as well...so, my yute Tappa, u betta hope sey Jamaica wins against Guatemala and play well..or else...
Same like Marlon King and Chris Humphrey...U GONE TOO, mi breda.
Memba seh most ites dont have a problem with the best 11 representing us. Fullstop. That needs to be clearly stated. As long as everybody is motivated. Ric. You spell too much doom and gloom. Both Marlon and Humphrey will be back.
When the U.S. plays against most CONCACAF teams, especially at home, it has acquitted itself quite well. The Americans have lost only twice at home since 1985 and once since 2001, so to get a leg up on them, teams will have a better chance at defeating them on the road. They open against Antigua and Barbuda in Tampa, Florida, a game that should be a relatively easy American triumph. Clint Dempsey, who has recovered from a groin injury suffered with Fulham (England), is considered the U.S.'s best player, taking that unofficial crown from Landon Donovan.
However, he is certainly far from a one-man show. Goalkeeper Tim Howard (veteran defender Carlos Bocanegra), midfielders Michael Bradley and Donovan form a solid core of players for a team trying to reach the World Cup for an unprecedented seventh successive time. No other CONCACAF team has qualified for the greatest show on earth that many consecutive times.
The best Jamaican team since the 1998 Reggae Boyz, who played in the World Cup in France, has a lot of expectations to live up to. With many players performing regularly overseas in England and the United States, these battle-tested players face pressure to advance. Jamaica's best include goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, fleet midfielder Dane Richards and strikers Omar Cummings and Ryan Johnson. It certainly doesn't hurt that the Jamaicans are tough at their home stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, appropriately called The Office.
Guatemala will be playing for striker Carlos Ruiz, who is making his final quest to reach the World Cup. The Central Americans must find a way to get past Jamaica on Friday. A tie would be considered a decent result, while a victory a major upset. Led by the likes such as midfielder Marco Pappa, the Central Americans have never qualified for the World Cup.
Antigua is just happy to be this far in the competition. Coach Tom Curtis, who also directs many of the same players on the national side on the Antigua Barracuda in USL PRO (the second tier of American pro soccer), said that he wants his team to be competitive in this round. After besting favored Haiti in the second round, Antigua will venture onto uncharted territory and learn about the higher echelons of the confederation. Earning a point in the six games would be considered a historical achievement.
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Time to deliver. That's the view of Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, head coach of Jamaica’s national senior football team, the Reggae Boyz, following yesterday’s final major training session at the Montego Bay Sports Complex here in the second city.
“We have the team, we have the goods and we have the ammunition, it is just for us to go out there and deliver,” Whitmore told the Jamaica Observer at the end of the squad match on the well-cut pitch.
[Hide Description] Je-Vaughn Watson (centre) attempts to elude Ewan Grandison (right), while Keammar Daley gives chase during a Reggae Boyz training session at the Montego Bay Sports Complex yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid) [Restore Description] 1/1
“I think it (training session) was positive again, the guys came out and achieved what we set out to achieve... it was excellent and the ground had a lot to do with it as well,” added Whitmore, a former Reggae Boyz captain and twogoal hero at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.
Yesterday’s session followed one on Sunday evening after the team returned to the island from its game against Panama last Friday. There was another practice session at the Noranda Sports Club on Monday, two at the same venue on Tuesday and yesterday’s squad match practice at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Whitmore admitted that the players looked sharp, despite the fact that some of them were carrying slight knocks and niggles. But despite that, Whitmore said he was “a hundred per cent confident” of his team doing the job against Guatemala at the National Stadium tomorrow to kick off their campaign on a winning note.
Dane Richards, who scored against Panama in a losing cause last Friday in Panama City, looked sharp, as did Je-Vaughn Watson, who was on target on a couple of occasions in the session playing from the right side of midfield.
Like the day before at the Noranda Sports Club in St Ann, Demar Phillips sat out the session, still reeling from the effects of a bout of flu, but his coach is unconcerned about his readiness for tomorrow’s assignment.
“For Demar it is just the flu, but he's definitely going to play on Friday, so he'll be okay,” remarked Whitmore.
In the squad match, the likely starting team had the better of the exchange but Whitmore was guarded about the starting team, noting that because of the niggles and knocks, one or two changes could be possible. But he was pleased with the effort given by both sets of players.
“That's what a coach is looking for when you can look at your bench and can call on anyone to go out there and fill that space,” he concluded.
The Boyz are scheduled to travel to Kingston this morning and are set to hold their final training session at the game venue this evening ahead of tomorrow's opening round of the semifinal phase of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying campaign against Guatemala at 8:30 pm.
The other two teams placed in Group A are the United States and Antigua and Barbuda. Following tomorrow's game, the Boyz are set to depart the island on Saturday for the eastern Caribbean island of Antigua, whom they oppose next Tuesday in the second round of qualifiers.
The US will host Antigua and Barbuda tomorrow, before visiting Guatemala next Tuesday.
Ric I agree with MrEX too much gloom an ball kno roll yet. Yes too much has happen since the camp started, and we have to wonder if the team will be in a focused state of mind come tomorrow. I just believe they will have to dig a bit deeper tomorrow to have the result we want and to restore the confidence we kno see yet since the GCC.
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Boyz open World Cup 'Mission to Rio'
Tackle Guatemala at ‘The Office’
BY IAN BURNETT Sport Editor
Friday, June 08, 2012
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JAMAICA'S senior footballers begin their quest for a place in the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals today when they host Guatemala in an 8:30 pm Group A kick-off at the National Stadium.
The groups's other game will see the United States hosting Antigua and Barbuda in Florida.
[Hide Description] Reggae Boyz Errol Stevens (left) and Ryan Johnson battle for possession during a squad game at the Catherine Hall Sport Complex on Wednesday. (Photo: Paul Reid) [Restore Description] 1/1
The Jamaicans are one of six seeded countries just now entering at the semi-finals phase of the CONCACAF play-offs, which pits 12 teams in three groups competing through October 16 this year. The other seeded teams are Mexico, USA, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Cuba.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the six-team final phase in a single group from February 6 -October 15 next year.
From that group, the top three will qualify directly for Brazil, while the fourth-placed team will enter an intercontinental home-and-away play-off with the winners from the Oceania Confederation.
Also today, Costa Rica host El Salvador and Caribbean minnows Guyana visit the high altitude of Mexico in Group B, while in Group C, Cuba welcome Canada and Panama visit Honduras.
The Reggae Boyz tasted success in 1997 when they qualified for the France 1998 FIFA World Cup Finals, becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean country to achieve the feat.
One man who was instrumental in that achievement is Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, now the head coach.
For that campaign Whitmore -- then known as a skilful midfield maestro -- opened with the winning goals against Suriname and duly closed that illustrious chapter with a spanking brace in a 2-1 triumph in Lyon, France, for Jamaica's solitary victory at the World Cup Finals against fellow debutantes Japan.
Fast-forward 14 years and Whitmore and his technical staff are confident of replicating history.
"We have the team, we have the goods and we have the ammunition, it is just for us to go out there and deliver," he told the Jamaica Observer following a squad match practice session at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Wednesday evening, firmly tossing aside the disappointment of two friendly losses against Panama and the suspension of Marlon King and Chris Humphrey for breaking team rules.
The coach was also pleased with the reaction of his players in training following those below-par performances, and is eagerly awaiting the first whistle from Panamanian referee Roberto Moreno Salazar, whose panel of officials will include assistant referees Daniel Anel Williamson (Panama) and Keytzel Raul Corrales Mojica (Nicaragua); fourth official Jafeth Perea Amador (Panama) and referee assessor Rodolfo Alexander Sibrian from El Salvador.
In fact, Whitmore said he's "a hundred per cent confident" his players will get off to a winning start.
"We have a bunch of young boys who worked their socks off and got in line behind me," he said. "They're hungry, which is what you need when you pull on the national team shirt. You need pride."
Whitmore was drafted in for the dismissed Brazilian Rene Simoes in 2009 and immediately established himself as capable of getting the job done.
In the three remaining games of that 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, he registered 1-0 wins over Mexico and Honduras at home, before slamming Canada 3-0 for a perfect three-from-three.
However, it was not enough as Jamaica lost out on a place in the final six on goal difference to Mexico.
Since then, he has retained the Digicel Caribbean Cup and has been steadily preparing for today's contest. However, there have been trials and tribulations along the way.
After a fairly decent CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament last summer when the Boyz advanced to the quarter-finals against the USA in Washington DC, where they bowed out 0-2, they lost momentum and suffered a string of losses in international friendlies, forcing the technical staff to have a rethink of its policy regarding the UK-based players.
"We started building a new core for the team when I took over," Whitmore said. "We needed to rebuild."
But after publicly lashing out at some of his players, the more experienced UK-based players were given another chance, leading to the recall of players such as Claude Davis, Ricardo Fuller, Damion Stewart, and Marlon King, and the introduction of Nyron Nosworthy, Adrian Mariappa and Chris Humphrey.
It was, therefore, no surprise with the team's disjointed performances against Panama, but the players have looked a lot better as a unit over the past week, leading to the coach's soaring confidence.
"I think it (training session) was positive again; the guys came out and achieved what we set out to achieve... it was excellent," he beamed on Wednesday evening.
Still, he wasn't prepared to look too far ahead, having realised the team hasn't achieved anything yet. "We have laid the foundations and now we have to execute and take advantage... Brazil 2014 is there as our target," he said.
Demar Phillips, who was suffering from a bout of flu, missed Wednesday's squad match, but the coach was sure he would take his place at left back in a back four which should see Mariappa and his Watford FC teammate Nosworthy at central defence, with either Xavian Virgo or Lovell Palmer at right back with captain Donovan Ricketts in goal.
The pair of Jason Morrison and Rodolph Austin are expected to control the tempo of the team from central midfield with Dane Richards and Je-Vaughn Watson on the flanks and Luton Shelton and Ryan Johnson in attack.
Though Jamaica have never met Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier, they hold the edge in recent times, scoring nine wins with three losses and four draws in their 16 encounters, including five straight victories and eight in their last 10 outings.
Today all this statistics mean nothing, but the Boyz will be looking to continue the trend.
That is a better team than Guatemala, so hopefully they execute. Nyron is going to need to learn how the Guatemalans flop very quickly so that he doesn't get into trouble. Marriapp should be fine since they don't have much speed.
If the attack needs boosting, Fuller, Stevens, Stewart and Dada provide good options.
Why would Shelton start over Fuller? I have little confidence over Shelton's finishing quality[quote=Shavar]So it sound like is
Rickettts
Lovell Marriappa Nosworthy Phillips
Richards Austin Morrison Watson
Shelton Johnson
That is a better team than Guatemala, so hopefully they execute. Nyron is going to need to learn how the Guatemalans flop very quickly so that he doesn't get into trouble. Marriapp should be fine since they don't have much speed.
If the attack needs boosting, Fuller, Stevens, Stewart and Dada provide good options.
Why would Shelton start over Fuller? I have little confidence over Shelton's ball control and finishing quality.
