Jamaica's football history
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Monday, November 22, 2004
Karl: Rumours or Fact - JFF attempts to pull the wool over our eyes?
 On Monday July 12, this year on CB's demotion from the position as National Coach. The Observer published the following report alluding to CB's legs being cut from under him by Boxhill and his JFF collegues.
Whither Brown's future?
Brown... many believe his record can stand up to scrutiny
Lazaroni could become new TD by weekend
When Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni was formally introduced as Jamaica's technical director/head coach on April 11, 2000, Carl Brown, who was redrafted as one of two assistant coaches, admitted he was surprised at the recall by the then Captain Horace Burrell-led administration.
Now, just over four years later, indicators are that Brown, who was promoted to technical director in December, 2001, is in for yet another surprise, as Lazaroni seems set to return to the post - probably as early as this weekend.
It is still uncertain what role, if any, Brown will play in the national set-up when Lazaroni takes over, especially when viewed against the background that the Brazilian is said to be taking his own technical staff to Jamaica.
Lazaroni... met with Boxhill in Brazil last week
'I will have to discuss the matter with the management committee and our executives, then discuss it with the technical staff,' was Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Crenston Boxhill's response to queries from the Observer yesterday.
'We will make a press release within 48 hours and then a press conference will follow some time after,' he added. However, an Observer source revealed that the JFF is trying to get Lazaroni in the island as soon as possible for the press conference.
'He could be here by this weekend, or early next week,' the source said.
Last week, Boxhill held talks with Lazaroni in Brazil, sparking much speculation here that the JFF was wooing the Brazilian to return to the helm of Jamaica's football.
Lazaroni was the man in charge of Brazil during their 1990 Italia World Cup Finals when they were knocked out, 1-0, in the second round by arch rivals Argentina.
He was brought to Jamaica in 2000 after compatriot Rene Simoes resigned following the country's poor results at the Gold Cup tournament in the USA in February of that year.
However, after just over two months in the job, Lazaroni - frustrated by poor results and perceived inadequate co-operation from players - stepped aside at the end of a two-week training camp in his homeland, paving the way for yet another Brazilian, Clovis de Oliveira.
The Observer understands that Brown and Boxhill had agreed in May that Lazaroni could be 'brought on board as a consultant'.
The Brazilian was contacted, but could not take up the offer at that time because his club side was contesting a final in Qatar, but he did make himself available for a 'later time'.
Last week, Lazaroni confirmed in an interview with Irie FM that he had seen Boxhill on Monday through Wednesday, but he was not prepared to divulge what came out of the meetings.
'I do not have the privilege to make that announcement', he said while noting that he was expecting the JFF to make an announcement by yesterday.
Brown, who easily qualified the Reggae Boyz for last year's Gold Cup tournament where they advanced to the second round before losing to Mexico in Mexico City, only recently hurdled a pesky Haiti, 4-1 on aggregate, in the second round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers to qualify for the semi-final round.
Brown returned to the island yesterday from a scouting mission in Chicago, where he watched the friendly international between the United States and Poland.
Jamaica kick off the semi-final round of their World Cup qualifiers against the USA at the National Stadium on August 18.
There are many who believe Brown's record can stand up to scrutiny.
In 40 games since Brown was appointed TD, the Boyz have scored 54 goals and conceded 43. They went 14 games without scoring, and 17 games with two or more goals. Their biggest margin of victory was 5-0 (against St Lucia on March 26, 2003), while their biggest margins of defeat were 5-0 against USA (May 16, 2002) and Mexico (July 20, 2003).
Ian Burnett, Observer staff reporter
Copyright© 2000-2001 Jamaica Observer
Now that Boxhill and his JFF collegues have once again been found wanting through the failure of their appointed coach to qualify the REGGAE BOYZ for the Hexagonal phase of CONCACAF qualifiers...never mind qualifying for the World Cup...Boxhill and the JFF, it is rumoured, takes cover behind the firing of CB.
In my mind such JFF action would be reprehensible. If the REGGAE BOYZ had qualified for the World Cup Boxhill and his collegues would have been basking in achievement and NO ONE WOULD BE FIRED.
The JFF's actions of hiring Lazaroni came a cropper! The JFF's decision of relieving Coach Brown of his job of preparing and managing the National Senior Team led to the JFF brass' anointed coach’s failure and thus proved the JFF brass' management decision of removing Carl Brown from coach of the REGGAE BOYZ a failed policy decision.
Why would Boxhill and company be firing Carl Brown when Carl had had a successful run while in charge of the REGGAE BOYZ? I will suggest that just as Clovis D’Oliviera was made a scapepoat after the JFF failed to provide him with requested international matches to aid preparation during World Cup 2002 qualifiers...so it is that Carl Brown, a man who was relieved of his responsibilities previous to our crashing out of these World Cup Qualifiers, would find himself being offered as the sacrificial lamb.
Boxhill made the decision to replace his successful local coach with Lazaroni. Boxhill told us that he was giving the REGGAE BOYZ the best possible shot at advancing to the World Cup by installing Lazaroni. Boxhill's Lazaroni failed! Is it not then Boxhill who must stand in the fire of his own making...repent and beg forgiveness? Is that not the way a real leader would act?
Now there are rumours of Wendell Downswell being thrust into the TD/National Coach's role. I would advise Wendell, that if the rumours are true, to quietly cast around for a job as Boxhill and the JFF management group's history, from the non-support and subsequent firing of Cargill, through to a CB's firing, are that of a weak ineffective management group with a penchant for shifting blame. Downswell should view such an appointment as one where he would be put out front to face the crowd with the Boxhill led JFF administrators approaching from behind his back with knives unsheathed!
The JFF leaders have always, in the past, expected a pass from the football stakeholders for the ineffective manner they have managed preparation of our national teams. There has been no steady preparation under the chosen local coaches...and, in the case of our age-group teams, excepting during the Simoes’ era, no consistent, some would say no preparations at all, against TOP OF THE WORLD quality opposition, before being thrown into battle against the better prepared Mexico, Costa Rica, USA and now Haiti!
The JFF leaders short-changed our local national coaches then when the under-prepared charges fail, as they must, those same JFF leaders hide behind the firing of the coaches. The surprising thing is large groups of supposedly sensible fans, time and time again, fall for the JFF's cheap trick!
I hope that this time it is rumours and the JFF does not attempt to pull the wool over our eyes? I hope if such was the JFF's thoughts an about face is done and instead Boxhill and the JFF brass hold themselves accountable for failed leadership . I look for pledges to provide the promised emphasis on Youth Development and continuous preparations for our teams with the inclusion of year round games against TOP OF THE WORLD quality opposition.
The cheap sleezy attempts to pull the wool over the fans eyes must cease.
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Editor's Note: While these articles are filled with correspondent's insight and expertise, they are based on the author's point of view and may contain speculation as well as fact. The views expressed by the author are not necessarily the views of The Reggae Boyz Supporterz Club.
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