Administration problems affecting the Reggae Boys

After qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France, it was expected that Jamaica would develop their football brand and become competitive in the CONCACAF region. Their appearance at the biggest show-piece in football was expected to be the catalyst needed to take the game to the next level, so the Reggae Boys would always be in contention to qualify for future World Cups. However instead of moving forward, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has taken several steps in the wrong direction.

After qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France, it was expected that Jamaica would develop their football brand and become competitive in the CONCACAF region. Their appearance at the biggest show-piece in football was expected to be the catalyst needed to take the game to the next level, so the Reggae Boys would always be in contention to qualify for future World Cups. However instead of moving forward, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has taken several steps in the wrong direction.

After failing to make it to the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups this was an opportunity for the JFF to show that they had learned from their mistakes from the past three campaigns. They never put together a team that spent a lot of time together or even a core of at least ten to fifteen players who are central to the plans of taking the team to the next level. Some may argue that the funding is not there to get the players together as often as needed but the sacrifices must be made to get things right in order to do well.

The National Premier League may have developed a little, as we have seen many players being transferred to overseas clubs in Europe and also to the MLS. There are more professional players playing in the Reggae Boys squad now than back in 1998, yet still they just can’t seem to get it right. However the difference between 1998 and the team now is that there were big personalities in the team back then who were all leaders and demanded the best from each other.

The likes of Warren Barrett, Linval Dixon, Durrant Brown, Peter Cargill, Ian Goodison and Steve Malcolm were all players with big personalities who always demanded nothing but the best and wore their hearts on their sleeves when they pulled on the Jamaica shirt. The same hunger and desire is lacking from this bunch of players. Only Rodolph Austin seems like he really wants to win and shows the ambition and desire to push the team forward. However, it is not clear if he has that ability to lift all the players around him and get the best out of them.

Administration Problems

The JFF is responsible for getting a team together that is capable of competing with the best from the region. They have a number of overseas players on their radar but it seems they are selecting players based on where they play and not ability. When selecting a team, the manager as well is the JFF must sit down and select players who are playing well for their clubs and on top form. It is also important to incorporate some young players who are eager to impress and who are also doing well at club level.

If you look around the world when countries are selecting a national squad, more often than not the players selected are those playing regular club football, match fit and sharp and whose fitness is at a certain level. Jermaine Beckford and Luton Shelton were selected after just coming back from ‘long term’ injuries. This is poor selection as these players did not have the sharpness and awareness needed especially for strikers to get by their markers over the first 5-10 yards and also to react quickly in the box. Marlon King, who hasn’t played club football from about March was selected and played ahead of young gun Darren Mattocks who has three goals in seven starts for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Jermaine Anderson was constantly left out despite his consistency in front of goal and riding high on confidence. Also young Deshorn Brown could also be considered as he is very hot in the MLS and looks very hungry and has a great appetite for goals. Young Alvas Powell grabbed his opportunity with both hands. However neither Mattocks, Brown, nor Anderson were given the chance despite their great form at club level.

In the twenty to thirty minutes given to him by coach Winfried Schafer against Costa Rica, Jermaine Anderson showed that he is a better option up front than Ryan Johnson and Beckford who had their chances. Anderson gave his midfielders the option to play the ball into his feet, he gave the option for the ball to be played in behind the defence and when the ball goes wide he has the tactical awareness to know he is suppose to attack the penalty box. The goal he scored showed that he knows where the goal is and his movement was first class as he peeled off his marker, kept his eyes on the ball and expertly slotted it past the goalkeeper who had no chance. 

The midfield is also of big concern as only Rodolph Austin looks a modern day player with the athleticism and the energy to throw himself around. In the early stages Jason Morrison looked a good partner for Austin as he seems very comfortable on the ball and he is mobile enough to cover the necessary ground required. A lot of faith was placed in Marvin Elliot but he is just not mobile enough or has athleticism the required to play in the centre of the park. He seems very sluggish on the ball and takes far too much time to decide what he wants to do when the ball is at his feet.

Tactical problems

As if selection wasn’t a big enough problem, the coaching staff may well have been letting down the players. The team always seem to be set up very defensively and always sit back on the defence with only a few players willing to go forward which explains the struggle to create chances and ultimately score goals. Theodore Whitmore was an attacking player and it was expected that he would have been more adventurous with the likes of Jobi McAnuff, Gareth McCleary, Dane Richards, Luton Shelton and Jermaine Johnson.

He never really selected a true playmaker down the middle but neither did he try to get the creativity from the wide players he had in his ranks. Many teams around the world particularly in Europe get their creativity from wide and have a work-man like middle with someone to supply the wide players with the ball. However players like Jermaine Hue and Keammar Daley are capable of pulling the string as a playmaker behind the main striker but this option was only exploited against Mexico and the USA here at the National Stadium. It worked to an extent as there was a lot more threat going forward with Hue spraying the ball around the pitch and asking a lot of forwards and wingers as should be the case.

Under Whitmore there were also many questions over his substitutions as they never seemed to be relevant due to the team’s situation. There were many situations when he would take out an attacker to put in a central midfield player when the team was chasing the game. His tactics were very much the same for all the teams he played against which cannot be the case. Every team plays a different style and they must be analyzed in order to have a plan as to how to go about getting a positive result. At this level nothing is a secret and therefore it is unacceptable not to make the necessary preparations for every game when facing different oppositions with different playing styles.

It is now the time for the JFF to come to the realization that what happens off the pitch is just as important, and perhaps even more important than what takes place on the pith. The work done behind the scenes is of great significance as it can make or break a team. The JFF administration must understand that football is not just a sport or a game but it is a way of life – a culture – and success can lift the spirit as well as unite a community and a nation on a whole. 

Photo: Committed Jermaine Anderson being assisted by the Jamaican medical staff after the 1-1 draw with Costa Rica at the National Stadium 

Yashiema Love

Senior Contributor

GIVEMESPORT Writing Academy

Cell: 862-9107

Email: yashiemalove15@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of Yardie Sports or its related entities.