A new champion will be crowned in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Wata daCosta Cup as defending champions Clarendon College were knocked out at the competition following a 1-2 loss to Cornwall College in their final Round of 16 contest in May Pen on Saturday.
Deshaun Talbert (33rd) and Dante Escoffery (44th) got the goals in the consolation win for Cornwall College in Zone Two, while Nicholy Forbes pulled one back for Clarendon College in the 73rd.
The result saw both teams being eliminated from the daCosta Cup as Zone winners Munro College (seven points) and Frome Technical (five points) secured the quarterfinal spots after a goalless stalemate in the other zone contest.
Cornwall College and Clarendon College ended on three points and one point, respectively. However, both teams will have a shot at the Ben Francis knockout title.
Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore was pleased with the fact that his team ended the daCosta Cup on a high.
“I think it was more the desire and commitment with which we played. The second half of the season has been lacking but they came out this afternoon and we could see the fight and commitment from the players. The Ben Francis Cup is still a trophy to play for so we are looking forward to it, but it is a game-by-game situation so we just want to get the first game out the way and then see where we go from there,” Whitmore said in a post-game interview.
Though Clarendon College had a slight chance of progressing, provided they won and Frome Technical lost, it was Cornwall College, playing for pride, that looked more purposeful from the start.
Kayvon Donaldson proved troublesome to the opponent’s defence as he got the first two warning shots off from distance, the first of which went straight at Lydel Rodney in goal for Clarendon College, while the second sailed over the crossbar.
Donaldson, sporting the number 14 jersey, continued to lead Cornwall College’s attacking line and his persistence proved rewarding when he won a penalty after being taken out inside the 18-yard box. Talbert later converted the 12-yard kick.
With Clarendon College looking deflated, Cornwall College doubled their lead when Escoffery produced a well-timed run to meet a weighted pass inside the 18-yard box and head past Rodney, who should have done better.
Clarendon College showed more life on the resumption and created a few decent opportunities, with Forbes at the forefront of each attack.
The player sporting the number nine jersey first went close in the 71st when he was played in behind defenders, but his first effort came back off the upright, while the follow-up attempt was kept out by Carlyle Tinglin in goal for Cornwall College.
Forbes again went close soon after, but again failed to beat Tinglin, who was well-positioned to stop the effort.
He inevitably hit the back of the net when he finished a rebound after substitute goalkeeper Jerome Bernard spilled the ball from Nashon Bolt’s freekick.
Clarendon College’s Head coach, Lenworth ‘Teacha’ Hyde, felt his team underperformed this season.
“We didn’t do well this season; we lost some players last year, so we are basically on a rebuilding process. We have some Under-16 players to look at to gel with these current players. So it is a rebuilding process but I think we played well today, we had possession, it is just that we are not scoring, hence we lost the game,” Hyde said.
Saturday’s results
Alphansus Davis 0, Garvey Maceo 0
Kemps Hill 0, STETHS 2
Clarendon College 1, Cornwall College 2
Frome Technical 0, Munro College 0
Ocho Rios 2, Dinthill Technical 2
Happy Grove 0, Glenmuir 1
Central High 2, McGrath 1
Manchester High 2, Denbigh High 2
It was a successful return to Mount Pleasant FA for head coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore as the St Ann-based club kept their Concacaf Caribbean Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Arnett Gardens FC in a keenly contested encounter at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
Jashaun Anglin (33rd) and Kimoni Bailey (82nd) fired Mount Pleasant to three valuable points as they bounced back from an opening 0-2 defeat to reining Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions Cavalier and, by extension, the dismissal of then coach Harold Thomas.
Shai Smith’s 54th-minute strike kept things interesting for CFU Club Shield winners Arnett Gardens, who will now have to pick up the pieces and come again.
With the win, Mount Pleasant jumped to second on three points, behind Cavalier, while Arnett Gardens sit bottom without a point.
For Whitmore, the result served as a statement of the quality that Mount Pleasant possesses both on and off the field.
“After coming off a loss, for us these three points mean a lot to the club, it means a lot to the players, and we just have to keep working and keep improving,” Whitmore said in a post-game conference.
“We didn’t want to find any excuses. We asked the boys one thing, and that was to give of their best, give 110 percent, and they went out and left it on the pitch. The aim is always to make a statement, and that’s what we did today (Tuesday),” he added.
After a tentative start, both teams gradually got into their stride, but it was Mount Pleasant that grabbed the ascendancy when Anglin expertly headed home from Daniel Green’s weighted cross.
Mount Pleasant rode the momentum in their probe to extend the lead, which they almost did on two occasions in the latter stages of the first half, but for Asher Hutchinson in goal for Arnett Gardens.
Hutchinson first came up big to deny Jean Ferreira’s close range effort in the 44th, and then Shaqueil Bradford in the 45+2 to ensure his team remained in the contest at the break.
Moca FC in action against AC Port of Spain.
Arnett Gardens showed more attacking fight on the resumption and pulled level nine minutes in when the lanky Smith rose above defenders to head home Kimani Arbouine’s cross.
Now pumped, the ‘Junglists’ pushed for the go-ahead goal, which they would have had in the 58th if Fabian Reid’s effort dipped below the crossbar.
Mount Pleasant also rued their luck for a minute as Nicholas Nelson’s 76th-minute shot at the other end also came off the crossbar.
However, their disappointment turned to celebrations six minutes later when Bailey displayed nippy footwork to dismiss defenders in a dazzling solo effort, which he ended with a tidy finish beyond the hapless Hutchinson to seal Mount Pleasant’s win.
Whitmore’s side will next visit Trinidad and Tobago’s Miscellaneous Police FC in Couva, on September 26, while Xavier Gilbert and his Arnett Gardens team will hope for better fortunes also against Police FC, whom they will visit on September 19.
“It is just unfortunate we are on the losing end, but it is just the first game. We are still in it. It might set us back in terms of points on the board, and we are probably at the bottom of the table. But we are going to give it a shot. We have multiple games,” Gilbert noted.
Meanwhile, in Group B action, Dominican Republic’s Moca FC produced a decent second-half display to edge Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain 3-2 at Estadio Moca 85.
John Paul Rochford’s brace (41st and 49th) for AC Port of Spain proved in vain as Alan Aciar (51st), Gustavo Ascona (62nd), and Clifford Thomas (90+1) brought Moca FC from behind to secure all three points.
The win pushed Moca FC to the top of the standings on four points, while AC Port of Spain remained on one point.
Moca will seek to extend their unbeaten run when they host Ouanaminthe FC on September 18, while AC Port of Spain’s next challenge will come against Grenades FC on September 17 in Couva.
After a topsy-turvy week in which they lost their opening Concacaf Caribbean Cup encounter, sacked Harold Thomas, and brought back Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, Mount Pleasant FA will be hoping to ride a more positive wave when they engage Arnett Gardens on Tuesday.
While it will be Mount Pleasant’s second Group A outing, having lost 0-2 to reigning Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions Cavalier last week, Arnett Gardens will be wetting their feet in the tournament for the first time since winning the Caribbean Club Shield, and they will be intent on maintaining their rich vein of form.
Sabina Park should be abuzz for the 5:00pm encounter, which has mouth-watering prospects, as Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant have met several times in the JPL with both teams securing six wins apiece while drawing another five. However, this will be their first ever meeting in this tournament.
With both teams hunting their first point to stay in touch with group leaders Cavalier (three points), as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s Police FC and Haiti’s Real Hope on a point each, it is anybody’s guess where the points will go, if not being shared.
Though targeting victory on return to the St Ann-based club, Whitmore is by no means grandstanding against a high-riding Arnett Gardens.
“Arnett Gardens are just coming out of a tournament, which they won. So they will be upbeat. Our players know the task at hand. They know it’s going to be a difficult game, but I think this unit is up for it,” Whitmore said in a pre-game conference.
“It’s for us to put ourselves out there and give 110 percent. But there is one other thing, and that is to get a positive result. We have not spent a lot of time with the players, so we are still trying to put the pieces together. Hopefully, come match day, we will be ready,” he added.
For Arnett Gardens Head coach Xavier Gilbert, this encounter represents the start of their quest to cop a coveted double-title feat, much like last year’s winners, SV Robinhood of Suriname.
“It would be nice to win the double, but we just want to take it one step at a time and not think too far ahead. This first game is going to be extremely tough because Mount Pleasant are coming off a loss, and I am sure they will want to ensure that they stay in the hunt,” Gilbert stated.
“They are a quality team, and they have acquired some good players, so it is going to be tough, but we are going to put our best foot forward and ensure that we get something out of the game. We anticipate that Whitmore, who coached them last year, knows the players well, and he will probably put the pieces together despite not having a lot of time,” he noted.
Elsewhere in Group B on Tuesday, Dominican Republic’s Moca FC will host Trinidad and Tobago's AC Port of Spain at the Estadio Moca 85.
Both are on a point each, same as another Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC, who will also host Antigua and Barbuda club Grenades FC at the Estadio Cibao.
Grenades FC, who were runners-up to Arnett Gardens in the CFU Club Shield, will be out for the first time in this tournament.
Meanwhile, Group A leaders Cavalier will be back in action on Thursday against Police FC at Sabina Park.
While news has circulated that Mount Pleasant FA has parted ways with Harold Thomas and has started negotiations for the return of Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore and his staff, one such member, Davion Ferguson, has dispelled the rumours about his return to the St Ann club.
Unconfirmed reports are that Thomas and his staff, who were brought in to replace Whitmore's staff at the end of last season, have since been dismissed after only one game in charge –a 2-0 loss to Cavalier in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
It has also been widely circulated that Whitmore and his coaching staff, which led the St Ann-based club to its first ever Jamaica Premier League (JPL) title in the 2022-23 season and lost last season’s final to Cavalier in a penalty shootout, could make a return to take the reins.
Efforts to get confirmation from Mount Pleasant’s management proved futile. However, Ferguson, who was Whitemore’s assistant, rubbished the claims on his part.
Ferguson, rated as one of the brightest young tacticians in the region, was recently contracted by Portmore United ahead of the upcoming JPL season.
“I am currently on my way to Portmore United’s training now, so I don’t know where they got that news from because I am contracted to Portmore United, and as far as I know, I am still the coach of Portmore United,” Ferguson told SportsMax.Tv.
Despite enduring a failed Copa America campaign, England-born winger Demarai Gray believes Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz displayed some semblance of improvement in the tournament, which has left him excited at the prospects to come in their push for a 2026 FIFA World Cup berth.
Though they lost 0-1 to Mexico, 1-3 to Ecuador, and 0-3 to Venezuela -in what turned out to be Heimir Hallgrimsson's last assignment in charge -Gray pointed to the positives and the lessons learnt, which he is optimistic they will apply under the new Head coach for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
"I think it (Copa America) has shown us that there is more quality out there at international level and no matter the team, there are quality players and quality competition. That goes for us as well. We have quality players; it’s just about putting it together and developing. I’ve said it many times, I think we’re a work in progress. The improvement has been there and I think there’s a lot of improvement to come. Personally, I’m excited," Gray said in a sit down with FIFA.
The Boyz have already registered 1-0 and 3-2 victories over Dominican Republic and Dominica in their two qualifying fixtures to date, with British Virgin Islands and Guatemala next in their line of sight.
However, with the qualifiers on pause until next year, Gray explained that the Concacaf Nations League, which begins in September, and possible friendly encounters will serve in fine tuning their technical and tactical efficiency, as their main target is to secure one of three automatic berths to the global showpiece.
"There’s no better start than two wins and I feel like we just have to continue that in the rest of qualifying. The World Cup is something that we’re eager to reach, so it’s a great start and now we just have to maintain that level of performance," Gray said.
"There are a lot of different games that we have to play, Nations League, friendlies. The World Cup qualifying games are obviously very exciting because we want to get over the line as quickly as possible. But when you play for Jamaica, the fixture or whatever competition you’re playing in, it’s just exciting to be part of the team. At the end of the day, the goal is to win every game we play, so we’ll just take that mentality into each game. When the World Cup qualifiers come around, it will be very exciting for us," he added.
Gray, who joined Jamaica's set up in 2023, has no doubt that the current crop of Reggae Boyz possess enough quality to replicate the country's 1998 qualifying feat.
In fact, the 28-year-old was quick to point out that the Theodore Whitmore-led team that graced the global stage in France back then, has fuelled their aspirations to rise to the occasion.
"It (France 1998 team) is a special team. Sometimes in meetings we’ll watch clips and stuff of that team and now we’re trying to re-create those memories. As I’ve said, it's exciting to be part of that process, and I’m confident that we will be there with the players that we have here now," Gray said with an air of confidence.
"It is a dream for me. To participate in a World Cup, a competition you watch as a kid, I just think that for the boys and the nation it would be massive. I think we deserve it and we are going to work our hardest to get there," he declared.
With five goals and four assists in 14 games so far, Gray, who possesses speed and flair has become an indispensable asset in the Reggae Boyz team along with other heritage players, Michail Antonio, and Bobby Reid, just to name a few.
While speculations are rife that Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson could soon add to the country's bevy of dynamic attacking players, the reality remains that games are played on the pitch and not on paper, something Gray is well aware of.
"There’s always talk of guys potentially joining Jamaica, but what we have in this group is good, too. We have good togetherness here within the group, so whatever players we choose or call up is down to the federation. But what we’ve got in the squad now, I’m happy with it and it’s a great environment to come to work in," Gray noted, as he urged fans and neutrals alike to stick with the team.
"We just ask for their full support, as they’ve always given the team, given to myself. I’m grateful for it. We just ask that they stay behind us and there are a lot of exciting times ahead," he ended.
Mount Pleasant Football Club, the 2023 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions, has announced that the contracts of head coach Theodore Whitmore and his technical staff will not be renewed. The club is set to embark on a new direction that aligns Mount Pleasant Academy with the Football Club.
Mount Pleasant announced that the contracts of Whitmore and his staff will expire on July 31, 2024. In a statement, the club cited the need for a new direction as the reason for the change.
"The club is embarking on a new direction which synchronizes Mount Pleasant Academy and Mount Pleasant Football Club," the statement read. "Mount Pleasant will shortly announce a new technical team to chart the course of the club. The club is committed to achieving all the sporting goals and objectives entering this new phase and new direction."
Whitmore, who joined Mount Pleasant in July 2022, led the team to its first JPL title last year, triumphing over Cavalier 2-1 in the finals. His tenure followed his departure from the national senior men's football team in December 2021.
Mount Pleasant relinquished their title when they lost to Cavalier 3-4 on penalties in the 2024 final.
Following the success in 2023, an elated owner Peter Goule told Sportsmax.TV highlighted the club's long-term vision. "We are pretty excited, we have put a lot of work into the academy and the platform is well and truly set to accomplish all that we want to. It will take a few years to build a complete institution, but we have people willing to come along and help us to move to another level, so we firmly believe we will be able to get there and put Jamaica’s football on the map the real way," he said then.
It has now become apparent that Coach Whitmore will not be part of that vision.
"The club wishes to express profound gratitude to Coach Whitmore and his technical team for their leadership over the past two seasons which brought glory and success to the club. Their invaluable contribution has seen Mount Pleasant Football Academy make an indelible mark in the Jamaica Premier League and in the parish of St Ann. We wish them all the best in their endeavours going forward."
Whitmore's departure marks a significant change for Mount Pleasant as they look to build on their recent success and continue their development both on and off the pitch.
Reigning champions Mount Pleasant Football Academy reclaimed their regular position in the top two on the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League standing, following a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Harbour View at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.
Devonte Campbell (25th) and Shaqueil Bradford (35th) got the goals for Mount Pleasant, after Demar Rose gave Harbour View an early second-minute lead in the encounter that started at a decent pace, but lost tempo in the second half.
The win, which extended Mount Pleasant’s unbeaten run across seven games, pushed the St Ann-based team up to 39 points, one behind leaders Cavalier, on 40 points.
Tivoli Gardens (37 points), Portmore United (36 points), Arnett Gardens (34 points) and Waterhouse FC (26 points), occupy the other playoff positions. Harbour View are ninth on 19 points.
Winning coach Theodore Whitmore was pleased with his team’s recovery after conceding early.
“It was a high intensity game which is what we expected, but the problem is how we started the first half, and secondly, we played in the middle, instead of going out wide where we needed to play because that is where we are dangerous. After we sorted that, we got back into the game and got the job done,” Whitmore said in a post-game interview.
“After conceding, we didn’t panic, we maintained our focus and used the width of the pitch and that is where we were successful. So, it was a good win, but we want to take it game-by-game and just do what we have to do,” he added.
It was a frantic start to the contest, as Harbour View grabbed the early ascendancy, when Demar Rose lashed a right-footer past Mount Pleasant’s goalkeeper Shaquan Davis from deep inside the 18-yard box, after Jashaun Anglin neatly chested the ball down into his path.
The ‘Stars of the East’ continued to enjoy the better of possession and should have doubled the lead in the 11th Okeemo Jones broke down the right channel with Rose for company in a two-on-one situation. However, he was hesitant in getting the pass off and was later dispossessed by a recovering defender.
That missed opportunity proved costly 14 minutes later, as Mount Pleasant pulled level courtesy of a tidy team build up, which ended with Campbell firing home his second of the season from an angle, after Daniel Green’s initial effort was parried by Davis.
From there, Whitmore’s side took advantage of the game, as they spread the ball to the left channel, in particular, where Campbell utilized his speed and nippy footwork to rattle Harbour View’s defence.
Three minutes past the half-hour mark, the 20-year-old Campbell produced a burst of speed down the left channel and was felled inside the danger area by Jones.
Referee Christopher Mason quickly pointed to the spot, and Bradford, who was assigned responsibility, made no mistakes from the 12-yard spot to put Mount Pleasant 2-1 up.
Mount Pleasant thought they had a third when Sue-Lae McCalla got the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed by referee Mason, who spotted a handball.
They again got the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time, but again it didn’t count as Bradford’s finish was from an offside position, and the score remained 2-1 at the break.
The second half, which was marred by stoppages, offered very little to write home about where goalmouth action is concerned, as both teams nullified each other’s attacking prowess and, as such, were unable to really produce anything meaningful in the final third.
Though slightly disappointed with the outcome, Harbour View’s Head coach Ludlow Bernard took heart from his team’s performance.
“I thought we gave it our all it is just unfortunate that after two breaks, we conceded and this about the third time this has happened, so we have to concentrate better,” said Bernard, who also took a jab at the officiating.
“I wouldn’t entirely say it was down to indiscipline, but more incompetence on the part of the officials. I think they were extremely poor, but that is that my guys battled hard, I think we needed to continue being patient with our build ups and that is a positive that we will build on going forward,” he noted.
Matchweek 18 Results
Cavalier 4, Lime Hall Academy 0
Molynes United 2, Portmore United 2
Dunbeholden FC 1, Treasure Beach FC 1
Humble Lion 0, Tivoli Gardens 2
Montego Bay United 0, Arnett Gardens 0
Vere United 0, Waterhouse FC 1
Harbour View 1, Mount Pleasant FA 2
After playing out a goalless first half in which Thomas of Cavalier had the best of the few chances created between both teams, as his close-range effort was kept out by Shaquan Davis, who got down well to his right, Mount Pleasant broke the deadlock five minutes into the resumption.
Cavalier Football Club’s Head coach Rudolph Speid says his team has no intentions of resting on their laurels, after edging reigning champions Harbour View 1-0, in the first leg of their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) semi-final tie at Sabina Park on Monday.
Orlando Russell’s second goal against Harbour View and third overall this season, proved the all-important strike that handed Speid’s youthful team the advantage ahead of Sunday’s return-leg at the same venue.
“What we tried to do was not to concede any goals and take what we got and that is what happened. But I think we need one or two more goals to be safe and so we will be pushing for that in the next game,” Speid said.
After playing out a goalless first half where both teams had their moments, Cavalier found the go-ahead goal seven minutes after the interval through a well-worked build up orchestrated by Nickache Murray.
Murray floated a delicate pass over the top, which was headed across by Jerome McCleary for Orlando Russell to apply the finishing touch at the far post.
Harbour View came close to pulling level in the 62nd minute, but Cristojaye Daley’s well-struck left-footed drive from a distance, was equally well-saved by Vino Barclett, diving full-stretch to his right, in goal for Cavalier.
Cavalier could have extended their lead in the latter stages when the league’s leading scorer Collin Anderson got away from Harbour View’s defenders but fired a right-footed effort straight at goalkeeper Romario Palma, despite having enough space and time to set and shoot.
For Harbour View’s Head coach Ludlow Bernard, its back to the training pitch to assess their mistakes and make the necessary adjustments for the second leg.
“We ran out of ideas up top and so we paid the price for it. We didn’t capitalize on what was probably a tired Cavalier team, but we have some things that we clearly need to look because we are now under one-nil, so we just have to reset and come again,” Bernard stated.
Meanwhile, the second semi-final between Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant remain evenly poised, as they played out an entertaining 2-2 stalemate in a game that ensured the large crowd did not leave disappointed.
The inform Leonardo Rankin (17th) and Trivante Stewart (63rd), got the goals for the St Ann-based Mount Pleasant, who went in front twice, but Shai Smith (30th) and Fabian Reid (66th), ensured Arnett Gardens, remained in contention.
It was mostly end-to-end action from the start, but it was Mount Pleasant that drew first blood when Rankin deflected Demario Phillips’s weighted corner kick past Eric Edwards in goal for Arnett Gardens.
However, the “Junglists” were back on level terms 13 minutes later when Ajuma Johnson’s weighted cross found the head of the rangy Smith, who made no mistakes in guiding past Shaquan Davis.
As the score remained unchanged at the break, both teams against came out firing on the resumption, throwing their weight in attack, but again, it was Mount Pleasant that found the go-ahead goal three minutes past the hour mark.
Stewart outsprinted two defenders before squeezing a right-footer past the advancing Edwards to register his 16th goal this season.
But the celebrations were short-lived, as Reid also registered his 16th goal of the season when he utilized a cheeky first touch to create space for a right-footed drive that had Davis well beaten.
Both teams continued to create chances and could have secured the advantage, but for a lack of composure in the final third.
Still, both Paul “Tegat” Davis of Arnett Gardens and his counterpart Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore, agreed that it was a fair result, as it is anybody’s game come Sunday.
Interim Head Coach of the “Reggae Boyz,” Paul Hall, says his selection policy in the short term will be to pick the best players available as he aims to get Jamaica into the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Paul Hall has been appointed head coach of Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz following the sacking of Theodore Whitmore earlier today, the Jamaica Football Federation has confirmed. Hall will be in charge for the remainder of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers that resume early next year.
“Bearing in mind that the World Cup campaign is still ongoing, the JFF has decided to appoint former assistant Paul Hall to lead until the World Cup cycle ends,” a statement from the JFF read.
“The JFF wishes to thank Mr Whitmore for the work that he has put in with the team over the years."
JFF President Michael Ricketts confirmed Hall’s appointment earlier today saying, “Paul is the new head coach. We have had discussions with Paul and he is willing and ready. Everything is in place for him to take over.”
Hall is no stranger to the Reggae Boyz. He was a member of the team that historically qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup along with other English-based players Fitzroy Simpson, Deon Burton and Robbie Earle.
Hall joined the coaching staff in June on a part-time basis while still being employed by the English club Queens Park Rangers.
The decision to fire Whitmore stems from a recommendation from the JFF’s Technical Committee, who voted almost unanimously to fire him after what has been a disappointing final round campaign in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
After eight games, Jamaica has seven points and lies sixth in the eight-team table. Jamaica has only one win so far after wasting glorious opportunities to defeat the United States at the National Stadium in Kingston in November and Costa Rica a few weeks earlier.
Jamaica head coach, Theodore Whitmore, is expected to be replaced as head coach of the country’s national team with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) technical committee on Wednesday, expected to meet and make the recommendation.
Whitmore, a former national player, who was a part of the country’s historic 1998 World Cup team, was in his third stint in charge of the Jamaica squad. The Reggae Boyz have, however, struggled in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers despite being one of the pre-tournament favourites to do well.
After eight games the team is in 6th spot, seven places off the automatic qualification and play-off spots. During the difficult run, which included a 3-0 home loss to Panama, the coach’s line-up choices and tactics have come into question.
Whitmore, however, has one of the best win percentages as a Jamaica coach and is only one of two to take the team to the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. According to yet to be confirmed reports, Whitmore is expected to be replaced by former England player Ricky Hill, a coach formerly at American USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies. Whitmore’s assistant Paul Hall will reportedly stay on as a part of the coaching unit. The Jamaican team will resume its World Cup qualification with a home fixture against Mexico in January.
Jamaica Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore is impressed with the team’s camaraderie, after using an extra day to prepare for the team’s World Cup qualifier against El Salvador on Friday.
In recent months questions had been raised regarding the team’s sense of togetherness on the back of a rumoured rift between locally born and Uk-born members of the squad. That narrative has, however, shifted on the back of two solid performances against Canada and Honduras in the previous round of matches.
Heading into Friday’s encounter Whitmore is eager to see that trend continue heading into the upcoming round of games.
“I’m very pleased with the enthusiasm of the players. The camaraderie is good, the vibes in the camp is good and I’m pleased with what I’ve seen so far,” Whitmore said.
The team arrived in El Salvador on Monday, in order to be able to squeeze in an extra training session for the team.
“We are looking forward to the final session and the game.”
The Jamaicans who got their campaign slow start are looking to build momentum on the back of their first win of qualifiers, which came against Honduras in the previous round. The team is currently 6th in the eight-team standings on 5 points, 3 outside of the qualifying spots.
Jamaica Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore says the team is looking to continue riding its momentum into the upcoming round of World Cup qualifiers, particularly as it relates to defensive solidity.
The Caribbean team had a difficult start to its qualification campaign going winless in its first five games, before getting on the board against Honduras. The run of games included a 3-0 home loss to Panama and a 2-0 away loss to the United States. During the period the team conceded 8 goals.
Whitmore, however, made tweaks to the team’s formation for the last two matches against Canada and Honduras, which has led to two clean sheets.
“I think we want to build on the last two performances, from Canada to Honduras I think we can see much improvement because we have not conceded for the last two games, so we would like to build on that,” Whitmore said.
“We have a balanced squad here, for these two upcoming games so we are looking forward to it. Again, we want to build on the strength of the last two performances.”
The Jamaicans will kick off the crucial round of matches with an encounter against El Salvador on Friday, followed by a home match against the United States on Sunday. For the first time since the start of the campaign, the team will be allowed to have limited fans in the stadium.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
