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Boyz
to prove a point
FOLLOWING
their disastrous showing in the regional Copa Caribe (formerly
Shell Cup) tournament, technical
director Clovis de Oliveira will be looking to prove a point with
his youthful army on this trip to the Eastern Caribbean.
The party departed yesterday.
"We've a bad experience of
Copa Caribe in T&T," said de Oliveira of Jamaica's
unexpected exit in the preliminary stage of the competition's
final round in the
twin-island republic barely two months ago.
"The expectation is very high.
We are very confident. I want to lift them up,
let them know that they are going to represent their
country," he said.
The Boyz played tough Caribbean
neighbours Cuba in that country and drew
goalless and in reference to that contest, de Oliveira said
"the attitude
was there, the commitment was there... they can do better."
More than three-quarters of the
regular members of the Jamaica team are engaged
in either competition in the US Major League or undergoing
pre-season preparation
with clubs in Britain which are gearing towards the start
of their respective league campaigns.
In their absence, a number of the
players who represented Jamaica at the just-concluded
Under-20 World Cup finals in Argentina have been assigned
senior duties and the
Brazilian technical director is hoping the youngsters
will grab the chance
for growth.
"We've to realise that they're
young. But in spite of that, most of them have
two World Cups in their backs...they have great potential. This
time they
have the opportunity to show the country that they are
developing," said
de Oliveira.
The team will play its first game
on tour in the St. Kitts Football Festival against
Martinique tomorrow, before facing the hosts on Sunday. Afterwards
they will travel to
play one more game, against Grenada on August 1, before
returning home.
These games are part of the Reggae
Boyz' preparation for four crucial World Cup
qualifying contests against Mexico, the United States, Honduras
and Costa
Rica. Along with Trinidad and Tobago, who are out of the runnings
on a point,
the six are vying for three CONCACAF spots in next year's World
Cup finals
in Japan/Korea.
Costa Rica and the USA, which are
virtually assured of qualifying, sit atop the
standings with 13 points apiece, while Honduras and Jamaica are
tied on eight
with Mexico a point behind on seven.
All have four games remaining and
Jamaica's next will be on September 2 against
Mexico, which will play a semi-final contest today with Uruguay in
the South American
championship Copa America.
Give the strength and tradition of
the participants in that championship, Mexico
and Honduras are getting the sort of competition which seems
better suited
for the upcoming Cup qualifiers.
De Oliveira said he, too, would
love to be playing teams of that nature now but
it wouldn't be practical.
"I'd love to be playing
France, Brazil and other big teams but we can't with
the players who we have
now. If I could have all of our players we're sure we'd
be doing something else.
"Every nation knows that the
group of the players who are going to play against
Mexico is the strongest team of Reggae Boyz," added de
Oliveira, who recently
declined an invitation to play Brazil because of unsatisfactory
responses from
overseas-based clubs to whom requests were made for the
Jamaican pros.
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Redemption
Time!?
TECHNICAL
director of Jamaica's national football programme, Clovis de
Oliveira, said yesterday that Walter Boyd's recall to the national
squad was to give him a chance to prove his commitment and technical
readiness.
"This
is a chance for redemption. Let's hope he grabs it with both hands.
Where there is life, there is hope," de Oliveira said in a
statement to the press yesterday.
The
mercurial striker was recalled to the national senior team on Sunday
after he had rejected an earlier invitation to join the national
squad.
The
29-year-old striker, who has had a tumultuous international career,
at best, has been included in the team for the friendly game against
Cuba this Friday.
His recall
surprised and angered many football fans, considering that merely a
month ago he refused the said offer. However, de Oliveira said he
thought it important to explain to the public his reasons for doing
so.
The
Brazilian coach, in an interview with the Observer, noted that Boyd
had never before posed a disciplinary problem with him. His recent
indiscretion, he pointed out, was the only one.
"He was
punished... the man has apologised, showing a lot of willingness and
desire to be a part of the Reggae Boyz again... I do not think I
should condemn him or any other player on their past that I was not
a part of," de Oliveira said.
Boyd, a
former Excelsior Manning Cup player, was named in a youthful 20-man
squad that will journey to Cuba on Thursday, for their friendly the
following day. They return home on Saturday.
The Boyz
will then undertake a number of overseas engagements beginning next
week. They will participate in a three-team football festival
including hosts, St Kitts/Nevis and Martinique from July 27 through
29. They then oppose Grenada in a friendly on August 1, before
crossing the Atlantic for a game against Swansea City in England on
August 5. The Boyz end their tour with a match against former
four-time World Cup champions, Brazil in the South American's home
four days later.
de Oliveira
said that he thought this was the right time to recall Boyd. He said
the player called (telephoned) him before the team left for their
World Cup engagement against Trinidad and Tobago and "explained
his actions, showed remorse and requested that he be called for that
game". The request was refused but de Oliveira informed him
that on his (de Oliveira's) return, he would reconsider, "but
nothing was guaranteed".
"Eventually
I had to make a decision... when would be the best time to judge the
player's commitment? Should I do it in an important World Cup game
in September or October, or a tour of the Caribbean where there are
no financial benefits to be gained by any player, including Boyd?
"I
decide now because of two aspects," the Brazilian said. "I
told him, 'my friend no financial benefits for this game' and he
said 'no problem'... and I said 'Walter Boyd you have to agree to
refund the ticket that we (Jamaica Football Federation) paid for you
to come home from England', the public opinion requested that, and
he said 'no problem'.
"I am
the man in charge, no pressure from the media or anybody else, and
always when I take decisions I look for the best for the Reggae Boyz,"
he declared.
Still he
remained steadfast that Boyd has his destiny in his own hands.
"It is now in his hands... they (the players) know the
philosophy of coach Clovis de Oliveira. If Walter Boyd shows that he
is in good shape, that he can perform better than the players who we
have and his attitude is better, he is going to be part of the
Reggae Boyz again."
The squad
was scheduled to regroup last night and there are two training
sessions slated for today and tomorrow.
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Williams
stars for New England
Williams...
earned a penalty and set up a goal. - File
JAMAICA international Andy Williams
earned a penalty and assisted on another goal
to engineer a 2-1 win for the New England Revolution over the
Columbus Crew in
the US Open Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night.
New England are now through to the
semi-finals against DC United, who knocked
off A-League Richmond Kickers, also 2-1 the same night.
The Chicago Fire and Los Angeles
Galaxy were the other quarter-final winners.
After a goal-less first half at the
Foxboro Stadium, Williams dribbled past a
Crew defender before being hauled down in the box by Mike Clark in
the 50th minute.
Cate scored from the penalty spot for
New England, who had another Jamaican Wolde
Harris, in attack. Williams set
up the second goal, sending a through ball to William Sunsing,
who dribbled past Mike Lapper towards
goal and shot past Tom Presthus in the Crew
goal.
John Wilmar Perez scored for Columbus
in the 85th minute.
Boyd
Recalled (again!)
MERCURIAL
striker, Walter Boyd, was named in the youthful 20-man national
senior football squad which will opposed Cuba in a friendly game in
Havana.
The team
will departed on Thursday and return on Saturday (7/21).
Boyd, who
has experienced an on again, off again relationship with the Jamaica
Football Federation (JFF) over the years, created much controversy
last month when he travelled to Jamaica from England, courtesy of
the JFF, but refused to join the training camp in preparation for
the World Cup qualifier against the United States.
He also
failed to contact any JFF official prior to that game.
He was
subsequently omitted from other World Cup qualifiers against Costa
Rica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Observer
understands that Boyd made contact with technical director, Clovis
de Oliveira, after the Brazilian coach returned from Jamaica's game
against Costa Rica.
Boyd, along
with Ricardo Fuller and Sheldon Battiste, are the only players
included in this squad who were not drafted into the 24-man training
group called into camp last Thursday.
ZURICH (CANA)
-- Copa Caribe champions, Trinidad and Tobago, remain the top-rated
Caribbean Football Union (CFU) team in the July ratings which show
little change in the top 10.
Trinidad and
Tobago slipped two places to 27th on FIFA's world list after their
exit from World Cup qualifying, but remain clear of Jamaica, the
next highest ranked CFU team at 45th.
St Vincent
and the Grenadines (SVG), who were tied at seventh on the CFU list
with St Kitts and Nevis in the June rankings, slipped to eighth in
the only change in the CFU's top 10.
Last month
Trinidad and Tobago benefited from points gained in their Copa
Caribe title success in May to achieve a Caribbean all-time best
25th on FIFA's world rankings list.
But since
then, they lost 2-1 to Jamaica in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifying
match in Port of Spain, a result which pushed the Reggae Boyz three
places up to 45th.
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de
Oliveira confident
His team had
just lost two vital home points in a World Cup qualifying match,
yet Jamaica national coach, Clovis de Oliveira, wasn't worried
about his side's chances of advancement.
"Let
me make clear one thing. It was not the result that we wanted, but
it is true that the work isn't finished," he said after
Jamaica played the United States to a scoreless draw here
Saturday.
"There
are so many things that can happen in six games."
After
four matches, Jamaica sits in fourth place due to goal
differential at 1-1 with two drawn and five points in the six-team
CONCACAF qualifying group that will decide three berths for next
year's final in Japan and South Korea.
The
US team leads at 3-0 with one drawn for 10 points with Costa Rica
second at 2-1 with one drawn for seven points and Honduras third
at 1-1 with two drawn.
The
Jamaicans, who extended their home unbeaten streak to 51 matches,
play at Costa Rica on Wednesday as qualifying reaches a mid-point.
"I
knew that in the last campaign it was the same situation for
Jamaica when they qualified," De Oliveira said. "This
time instead of one point, they have five. So we have to put our
feet on the ground. We have to keep working hard because we still
have a clear chance to qualify again."
Jamaica's
biggest problem has been putting the ball into the net, having
scored only twice in four games.
"I
believe its sharpness and we are just not seeing enough movements
from the forwards," assistant coach, Carl Brown, said.
"They need to get into the open spaces, get clearer shots to
goal. I know once we improve in that area we will start to get the
goals again."
Archives
Available from the Main Page
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Premiership"
Ricardo
Ricardo's Boldon
Wanderers have made it into the English Premiership! After playing a
full season Boldon was forced into a two game playoff to determine
which of three teams get promoted.
Boldon convincingly won both games, scoring three goals in each,
with our home-grown boy accounting for one in each game.
Expect more big from this youngster, he can only get better!
Goodison
is Player of the Year
Player of the Year Award 2000-01
Hull City Football Club
Over 800 votes were cast in this year's poll, which was topped by Ian Goodison with a whopping 32%.
The trophy (pictured above) was presented to Ian Goodison at the Player of the Year Dinner at the Jarvis International Hotel, Willerby on the 31st May
2001
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Continued....
Cuba maintained 82nd spot
in the world to be the third-rated CFU team, with Haiti a close
fourth in CFU at 83rd in the world.
The next
highest rated CFU teams are Barbados at 107th, St Lucia (128th),
St Kitts & Nevis (129th), and SVG (130th).
Grenada,
137th in the world, are ninth in CFU and Suriname (142nd) hold
10th spot.
France
keep the world number one spot, ahead of Brazil, Argentina, Italy,
Germany and Spain, with Portugal ranked seventh.
CFU
FIFA RANKINGS
1
Trinidad & Tobago (27)
2 Jamaica (45)
3 Cuba (82)
4 Haiti (83)
5 Barbados (107)
6 St Lucia (128)
7 St Kitts & Nevis (129)
8 St Vincent and Grendns. (130)
9 Grenada (137)
10 Suriname (142)
Just a few quick words folks.
After watching Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras perform at the Copa
America Tournament it is clear that we are indeed in deep caca.
The level of play and fluency speak volumes for their respective
football programs. The level of maturity and will shown by these
teams in the face of superior opposition is astounding.
They have all done very well with Mexico in the final and Honduras
contending for third place, who knows? We may see Concacaf holding
the Copa trophy!
How does that relate to our
qualification? These teams will be coming at us with their
confidence significantly boosted. We need a vitamin to boost us
also or else the fat lady will have a chance to belt out a tune in
our name. We'll see.
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