I already have the team for our first World Cup Qualifier in my mind…………..”

Dear Jamaicans.

Technical Director René Simoes (R) in discussion with his assistants

It is a long, long time since I arrived here for my first stint as the Jamaica Football Federation‘s Technical Director. My first game was in October ‘94 against the USA and we were beaten by 3 x 0. This was the first and the only defeat that we experienced in that time in the National Stadium.

My second stint, as you know just started this year in January and already we played two games at the National Stadium. The result has been two draws: 1 x 1 against Costa Rica and 2 x 2 against Trinidad and Tobago. Over the years, the “Reggae Boyz” have done so well at the National Stadium that it was renamed “The Office”. I have never been booed with the Reggae Boyz before this last game, but as in life, everything has its first time and our time came.

So at this last game we were booed loudly by the fans who were clearly not happy with the result of the game. I hope that the boos were for me, because the players didn’t take a decision to change the team at half time and in the second half either….I accept that I have to apologise to everyone because this game was seen by many as a derby and in sports, a derby is not a game to experiment, it is a game to beat the rival badly as we did in 1997 by 6 x 2, the largest margin of defeat in all the history of the games between Jamaica and Trinidad.

Even though a National Team never stops experimenting, the derby is different. Look at the Brazilian National Team’s last friendly match against Sweden. We can see that the Coach used six Under 23 players to see their reaction and to continue building the U-23 team for the Olympics. The Coach used an Under -20 player Alexandre Pato as a senior player.

Why? One may ask if Brasil has players like Adriano, Luiz Fabiano, Vagner Love and others? The experiment in national teams never ends; there is a continuous research for a good Chemistry and the right players. It is also so in our case, but I don’t have any doubt the team we will place to face the Bahamas . I have the team already in my mind.

Captain Marlon King  making one of his indomitable runs on the Trinidadian goal

It would be a lost opportunity if I don’t address you on another problem that has become a point of discussion in our football fraternity. It is being said that PORTMORE’ players are the favorites of the national program, because Mr. Reid, the General Secretary and others have voice on team selection

First of all let me make it abundantly clear that the day that happens, I will not be here any more. Please take my word on that and charge me anytime.

Secondly, in 1994 through to 1996, the country complained that the national team belonged to the West. That time we had Theodore Whitmore, Shorty Malcom, ‘Tegat’ Davis, Donovan Ricketts, Durant Brown, Hector Wright, Winston Anglin, Warren Barrett, Anthony ‘Terminator’ Dennis and others. At that time the focus was on Seba, Wadadah and Violet Kickers. The answer I gave then was that they had the best players and I will invite them.

So let us look at the current facts:

For the training camp for the game against Costa Rica., we had: from Water House, 3 players; Harbour View, 5 players (if Fabian Taylor was not injured it would have been six); Portmore, 6 players; Tivoli, 3 players. From a total of 24 players, 17 were from the capital.

For the Brazilian training camp (without Harbour View players), Water house had 7 players; Tivoli 3 players; and Portmore 8 players. Again from 24 players, 18 were from three clubs.

Let us look at the Brazilian National team for the World Cup in 1970. It was composed of Gerson, Rildo, Jairzinho, Paulo Cesar, Roberto, Brito; six players from Botafogo and then Pele, Carlos Alberto Torres, Claodoaldo, Joel, Edu, all from Santos. Those were the best players and the best team at that time. Why not call them, the best club has to be punished because they have the best?

I will not change my way do things because there is a perception for this or for that. My way is just one and I will follow it….

We are in the right track in our program. Don’t allow a few to make you be in doubt.

May God bless you all.