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Editorial
Time to stamp class in CONCACAF
Saturday, December 11, 2010
To say the Reggae Boyz were under extreme pressure to win the Digicel Caribbean Cup would be to understate the case.
Once they got their way, having served up that ultimatum of 'pay up or else' on the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) with the tournament already in high gear, the playing squad led by Mr Shavar Thomas would surely have felt there was no option but to win a second successive Caribbean title.
That they succeeded speaks not only to their talent, but reflects stamina, professionalism and determination.
Their apology — made public yesterday — for that unfortunate ultimatum also suggests that they are 'real big men'.
Five games in nine days, which is what was required of the top four teams, represented an extremely punishing schedule. But to top it all, Jamaica had to endure back-to-back 120-minute games over two days, inclusive of half-an-hour extra-time periods to break deadlocks in the semi-final and final.
As though that was not enough, they were pressed to the wire by a good Guadeloupe team in the final and the game had to go to penalty kicks. That final penalty-kicking exercise to give Jamaica their fifth Caribbean Cup perhaps best reflected the high level of professionalism among the Reggae Boyz. It was perfect.
Their cool-headed manner while under pressure suggested that the nation's top footballers are now developing the type of confidence and self-belief without which sportsmen and women are doomed to failure.
Professionalism and confidence apart, in other respects Jamaica's football seems to be definitely on the up. We take heart from the comments of Belgium-based scout Mr Ali Lukunku who watched the Caribbean Cup. Said he: "They (Jamaicans) have the technique and, while they are still young — some are 25 or less — they are talented, they are intelligent and collectively, they play well together."
Such sentiments from a presumably knowledgeable and independent observer provide a boost for morale as Jamaica looks to FIFA World Cup qualifiers set to begin in just over a year.
More immediately, the performance of the Jamaicans and the positive response from observers such as Mr Lukunku inspire confidence ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States next Summer.
Jamaica have occasionally done well in this the premier tournament of the CONCACAF region. It's about time we start to seriously look towards winning it.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...#ixzz17orCSgHf
Time to stamp class in CONCACAF
Saturday, December 11, 2010
To say the Reggae Boyz were under extreme pressure to win the Digicel Caribbean Cup would be to understate the case.
Once they got their way, having served up that ultimatum of 'pay up or else' on the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) with the tournament already in high gear, the playing squad led by Mr Shavar Thomas would surely have felt there was no option but to win a second successive Caribbean title.
That they succeeded speaks not only to their talent, but reflects stamina, professionalism and determination.
Their apology — made public yesterday — for that unfortunate ultimatum also suggests that they are 'real big men'.
Five games in nine days, which is what was required of the top four teams, represented an extremely punishing schedule. But to top it all, Jamaica had to endure back-to-back 120-minute games over two days, inclusive of half-an-hour extra-time periods to break deadlocks in the semi-final and final.
As though that was not enough, they were pressed to the wire by a good Guadeloupe team in the final and the game had to go to penalty kicks. That final penalty-kicking exercise to give Jamaica their fifth Caribbean Cup perhaps best reflected the high level of professionalism among the Reggae Boyz. It was perfect.
Their cool-headed manner while under pressure suggested that the nation's top footballers are now developing the type of confidence and self-belief without which sportsmen and women are doomed to failure.
Professionalism and confidence apart, in other respects Jamaica's football seems to be definitely on the up. We take heart from the comments of Belgium-based scout Mr Ali Lukunku who watched the Caribbean Cup. Said he: "They (Jamaicans) have the technique and, while they are still young — some are 25 or less — they are talented, they are intelligent and collectively, they play well together."
Such sentiments from a presumably knowledgeable and independent observer provide a boost for morale as Jamaica looks to FIFA World Cup qualifiers set to begin in just over a year.
More immediately, the performance of the Jamaicans and the positive response from observers such as Mr Lukunku inspire confidence ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States next Summer.
Jamaica have occasionally done well in this the premier tournament of the CONCACAF region. It's about time we start to seriously look towards winning it.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/edito...#ixzz17orCSgHf