Fate of Boyz coaching staff to be known soon

[Dunny]

Fate of Boyz coaching staff to be known soon


Thursday, January 03, 2013

The long-awaited report to determine the future of the technical staff of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is still not on the desk of its president, Captain Horace Burrell.

But by all indications and with the 72-hour timeline for its completion long past, the report could be forthcoming very soon as the Howard McIntosh-chaired Technical and Development Committee takes its time to produce what is hoped to be a detailed and well thought-out plan of action going forward.

Jamaica’s Brazilian coaches Alfredo Montesso (left) and Walter Gama (centre) in discussion with former JFF General Secretary Horace Reid at the launch of the Digicel Grassroots Football Programme at the Paul Bogle High School in St Thomas earlier this year.



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Meantime, word making the rounds via at least one media outlet yesterday suggests that two of the Brazilian coaches — technical director Walter Gama and goalkeeper coach Armando Bracali — have indicated their intention of leaving the programme.

When reached yesterday, Burrell, who said "it was premature" to comment on the matter still under review, claimed he had no official correspondence regarding resignations of any member of the coaching staff.

"The technical committee is dealing with the matter and I await their report, plus any decision coming out of that, the (JFF) board (of directors) and all involved will have to be notified before more can be said," was all Burrell ventured to say yesterday.

What was clear is that an announcement regarding the recommendations of the technical review was expected soon.

Following Jamaica's poor rendition at the recent CFU Caribbean Championship in Antigua, Burrell had immediately ordered a probe into the disastrous performance of the team.

What was clear from the tone of the JFF boss from day one is that the technical programme in its existing form needed urgent examination and it couldn't be "business as usual" going forward into the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualification and beyond.

All four Brazilian coaches, including Gama's son Luciano, and senior head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore's assistant Alfredo Montesso, are said to be in their homeland for the holidays.

Burrell had said recently that the job of Whitmore was safe, but couldn't guarantee the future of the other members of the coaching staff, as their fate will rest with the outcome of the JFF Technical and Development Committee review.

All four Brazilians were employed for a package of US$50,000 (J$4.6 million) per month, which a cash-strapped JFF has found great pains in honouring on a timely basis.

The focus on the technical set-up was triggered when the Reggae Boyz, the back-to-back defending champions and favourites to repeat, played wretched football in their preliminary games in the regional tournament.

They lost their opening match of Group B 1-2 to French Guiana, before sharing points in a 0-0 slug-fest with Martinique, then crashing in their final game 0-1 to eventual champions Cuba.

Jamaica were the only team to have ended the tournament without a win

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[Dunny]

Brazilians booted! - Gama, Bracali casualties of Carib Cup calamity

8 recruits now eligible for Jamaican selection

Friday, January 04, 2013

IT'S official. Technical Director Walter Gama and goalkeeper coach Armando Bracali have been axed from the technical staff of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) "with immediate effect".

At a hastily called press conference at the JFF's New Kingston offices yesterday, local football boss Captain Horace Burrell announced the dismissal of the Brazilian duo.
JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell (right) at yesterday’s press conference in New Kingston. Also in picture (from left) are head coach Theodore Whitmore, JFF vice-president Bruce Gaynor and general secretary Raymond Grant. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Technical Director Walter Gama



JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell (right) at yesterday’s press conference in New Kingston. Also in picture (from left) are head coach Theodore Whitmore, JFF vice-president Bruce Gaynor and general secretary Raymond Grant. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)


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Following a review conducted by the JFF Technical and Development Committee into the Reggae Boyz's wretched performance at the recent CFU Caribbean Championship, it was found that Gama "lacked proactive leadership", while Bracali was deemed to have "not shown enough teeth" in the execution of his duties.
"We have decided to terminate the employment of both gentlemen following recommendations of the Technical Committee arising out of a review of the below-par performance of the team at the Caribbean Cup," Burrell said yesterday.
The JFF president said General Secretary Raymond Grant has undertaken the process of arranging "their exit".
"We would like to thank both men and wish them all the best in their future endeavours," Burrell told journalists.
Grilled in a question-and-answer session after his opening remarks, Burrell said the committee review ordered didn't find head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore at fault after Jamaica finished the eight-team regional tournament in last place after entering as defending champions and hot favourites.
"If coach Whitmore was found to be responsible, he would be fired... but the committee didn't find him wanting as Gama was the man responsible for the entire technical aspect and it was thought that the team was not properly prepared (along those lines)," the JFF head noted.
Burrell said based on a clause in both men's contracts, the JFF would not be liable for making severance pay.
Two other Brazilians — Under-20 coach Luciano Gama (Walter's son) and Whitmore's deputy Alfredo Montesso — have kept their positions in the national programme.
Four Brazilians — the two Gamas, Montesso and goalkeeper coach Joao Brigatti — were originally lured to Jamaica in a package deal worth US$50,000 (J$4.6 million) per month in what was thought a year or so ago to be a bargain.
It is reported that the JFF has struggled to meet the payments on a timely basis, and football watchers argue that while the firing of the two Brazilians may be justifiable, the decision was aided in part along cost-cutting lines of an organisation starved of cash.
Meanwhile Whitmore, who enjoyed the support of Burrell even in the heat of the Caribbean Cup fiasco, said he was not surprised he, too, was not booted.
"Honestly, I have rated myself from I have been coaching the national team... Basically, I think I've done a wonderful job with the limited resources, so I wouldn't consider myself lucky (not to be fired as well)," he said.
Whitmore, Jamaica's two-goal hero at the France 1998 World Cup in a 2-1 win over Japan, said he was
taken aback with yesterday's announcement of the dismissal of the elder Gama and Bracali.
"You would be surprised that any member of your coaching staff is leaving, but again it was the decision of the Technical Committee... we are professionals and we just have to move on and do what is best for the team and the country," he stated.
Whitmore said he would not venture to hold Gama, the technical leader, fully responsible for what happened in Antigua and Barbuda, but said the findings of the Technical Committee had to be respected.
"The technical director has a role to play and I have a role to play... the Technical Committee did their assessment and that's what they came up with. I wouldn't say that he was responsible for it (failure in Antigua), but as I said before it is up to the Technical Committee to give their findings," Whitmore explained.
The former midfield star noted that the country's football has to look past recent events and plot a course forward ahead of the World Cup qualification final round which kicks off with an away game against Mexico on February 6.
"We have a couple of days to now sit and see the way forward and to see how to approach the Mexico game and to ensure that we don't make the same mistakes that occurred in the Caribbean Cup... We just have to move on and think positive and get on with the job," Whitmore noted.
He conceded the void left with the departure of the two Brazilians has to be addressed at the soonest possible time.
"This is something we have to think about... I don't want to throw any names out there at this moment. Again, this is something that the committee has to look at," he declared.
The Boyz lost their opening Caribbean Cup match of Group B 1-2 to French Guiana, before sharing points in a 0-0 slug-fest with Martinique, then crashing in their final game 0-1 to eventual champions Cuba. They were the only team to end the tournament without a win.
Meanwhile, Burrell revealed that the base of the Boyz squad has been strengthened with news that seven UK-born and one German have received their Jamaican passports and are now eligible for selection.
They are the Reading pair of Jobi McAnuff and Garth McLeary; Watford's Lloyd Doyley; Marvin Bartley of Burnley; Derby County's Theo Robinson; Huddlesfield Jermaine Beckford, and Daniel Gordon of Germany's Karlsruher SC



Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2GzwDf6f6