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Tappa on staff?
Former Reggae Boy could join local coaching cast
IAN BURNETT, Sports Editor
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
WHITMORE. Jamaica's star at 1998 World Cup
FORMER Jamaican international standout, Theodore "Tappa" Whitmore, could soon join the backroom staff of the Reggae Boyz, if he accepts an invitation from technical director, Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic, the Observer has been reliably informed.
Whitmore, who returned to the island last year January after he severed ties on mutual grounds with English League side Tranmere Rovers, has impressed Bora since he assumed the role of player/coach of Seba United in the Wray & Nephew National Premier League last December, when the club parted company with the much-travelled Geoffrey Maxwell.
According to an Observer source, the former Reggae Boy, who possesses a wealth of experience, was recently recommended by Bora to the hierarchy of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to join his technical staff.
Bora since he assumed the role of player/coach of Seba United in the Wray & Nephew National Premier League last December, when the club parted company with the much-travelled Geoffrey Maxwell.
According to an Observer source, the former Reggae Boy, who possesses a wealth of experience, was recently recommended by Bora to the hierarchy of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to join his technical staff.
However, the source could not confirm if the 34-year-old Whitmore, more popularly known as 'Tappa', had accepted the invitation, or if he had reached an agreement with the JFF.
"Once he accepts the invitation and can reach an agreement with the JFF, he has the job," the source said.
Repeated efforts yesterday to contact JFF president Crenston Boxhill or Whitmore failed.
Whitmore's colourful 10-year international playing career came to an end following Jamaica's exit from the 2006 World Cup Finals at the semi-final stage of the CONCACAF qualifying round after the team's 1-1 draw with the USA in Ohio, on November 17, 2005. He was the captain of the team at the time.
Immediately following Jamaica's elimination from that World Cup campaign, the Boxhill-led JFF dismissed Carl Brown as technical director and announced a strategic shift in direction with emphasis on youth.
In line with the strategy, the squads which followed had a hard core of Under-20 and Under-23 players blended with some senior players, but Whitmore was not named among them.
The silky-smooth midfielder, who is blessed with exceptional close skills and comfort on the ball, was an integral part of Jamaica's historic World Cup qualifying team at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.
He opened the scoring for Jamaica in the qualifiers with a goal against Suriname in the preliminary stages, and closed out the World Cup Finals in glory, hitting a brace against Japan in leading the Reggae Boyz to a 2-1 triumph on that unforgettable Friday evening in Lyon.
Along with Tranmere Rovers, Whitmore also played in the English Leagues with Hull City.
Part of Bora's contract is to work with the local support staff at least for the first two years of his four-year contract. However, if after the two-year period he is not satisfied with that support, he has the option to bring in his own team.
The 62-year-old Serb has been working with the assistance of Wendell Downswell since guiding a group of mainly Under-23 players to victory in the Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong in February.
The 23-man squad, including the overseas-based players, is expected to begin training on Saturday and will be based at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville from Friday. They will train between Brancourt in Clarendon and STETHS.
Khari Stephenson, who was invited as the 24th player, has been excused from the squad, having only recently returned to full training after recovering from a broken arm.
The Boyz, listed 69th on the latest Coca-Cola FIFA World Ranking, are set to face 43rd ranked Chile at the National Stadium at 7:00 pm next Tuesday.
Former Reggae Boy could join local coaching cast
IAN BURNETT, Sports Editor
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
WHITMORE. Jamaica's star at 1998 World Cup
FORMER Jamaican international standout, Theodore "Tappa" Whitmore, could soon join the backroom staff of the Reggae Boyz, if he accepts an invitation from technical director, Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic, the Observer has been reliably informed.
Whitmore, who returned to the island last year January after he severed ties on mutual grounds with English League side Tranmere Rovers, has impressed Bora since he assumed the role of player/coach of Seba United in the Wray & Nephew National Premier League last December, when the club parted company with the much-travelled Geoffrey Maxwell.
According to an Observer source, the former Reggae Boy, who possesses a wealth of experience, was recently recommended by Bora to the hierarchy of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to join his technical staff.
Bora since he assumed the role of player/coach of Seba United in the Wray & Nephew National Premier League last December, when the club parted company with the much-travelled Geoffrey Maxwell.
According to an Observer source, the former Reggae Boy, who possesses a wealth of experience, was recently recommended by Bora to the hierarchy of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to join his technical staff.
However, the source could not confirm if the 34-year-old Whitmore, more popularly known as 'Tappa', had accepted the invitation, or if he had reached an agreement with the JFF.
"Once he accepts the invitation and can reach an agreement with the JFF, he has the job," the source said.
Repeated efforts yesterday to contact JFF president Crenston Boxhill or Whitmore failed.
Whitmore's colourful 10-year international playing career came to an end following Jamaica's exit from the 2006 World Cup Finals at the semi-final stage of the CONCACAF qualifying round after the team's 1-1 draw with the USA in Ohio, on November 17, 2005. He was the captain of the team at the time.
Immediately following Jamaica's elimination from that World Cup campaign, the Boxhill-led JFF dismissed Carl Brown as technical director and announced a strategic shift in direction with emphasis on youth.
In line with the strategy, the squads which followed had a hard core of Under-20 and Under-23 players blended with some senior players, but Whitmore was not named among them.
The silky-smooth midfielder, who is blessed with exceptional close skills and comfort on the ball, was an integral part of Jamaica's historic World Cup qualifying team at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France.
He opened the scoring for Jamaica in the qualifiers with a goal against Suriname in the preliminary stages, and closed out the World Cup Finals in glory, hitting a brace against Japan in leading the Reggae Boyz to a 2-1 triumph on that unforgettable Friday evening in Lyon.
Along with Tranmere Rovers, Whitmore also played in the English Leagues with Hull City.
Part of Bora's contract is to work with the local support staff at least for the first two years of his four-year contract. However, if after the two-year period he is not satisfied with that support, he has the option to bring in his own team.
The 62-year-old Serb has been working with the assistance of Wendell Downswell since guiding a group of mainly Under-23 players to victory in the Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong in February.
The 23-man squad, including the overseas-based players, is expected to begin training on Saturday and will be based at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville from Friday. They will train between Brancourt in Clarendon and STETHS.
Khari Stephenson, who was invited as the 24th player, has been excused from the squad, having only recently returned to full training after recovering from a broken arm.
The Boyz, listed 69th on the latest Coca-Cola FIFA World Ranking, are set to face 43rd ranked Chile at the National Stadium at 7:00 pm next Tuesday.
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