Jamaican football legend John Barnes and the Reggae Boyz are ready for their showdown with Cayman this weekend.
Tappa and Barnes are happy to be in Cayman |
Barnes said in a press conference this week that the Jamaicans are going to play their best.
‘Until Sunday we’re all brothers. I’m not going to say we’ll win or not but I guarantee we’ll put on a good performance.’
Alongside fellow Jamaican football legend Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, Barnes will lead the Reggae Boyz in a clash with the Cayman national team on Sunday.
The match is scheduled for 7pm at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.
Many dignitaries are expected to be in attendance from local Minister of Sports Alden McLaughlin to Jamaica Football Federation President Horace Burrell.
The team has been in Cayman since Monday and has been in constant training. On Tuesday morning Barnes had the side out in the rain at Truman getting used to the pitch and possible playing conditions.
They also played a local invitational squad on Wednesday night.
In spite of the current inclement weather Whitmore feels Cayman has vastly improved grounds.
‘What I’ve seen is very nice. A decent surface is really all you need but the quality of pitches here in Cayman is great. The better the surface the better everything is.’
Barnes admits he has little knowledge of Cayman and the national team. In fact this is the first time he’s been to Cayman in 10 years, having only come before for vacation.
However he says he knows technical director Carl Brown will have the side ready to compete.
‘I don’t know much about the Cayman team but I know a lot about Carl Brown. I know he’s professional and he’ll have Cayman ready to play.’
Barnes went on to say that he was also surprised by the amount of Jamaicans here and the support they’ve given to the squad.
‘I didn’t realize there were so many Jamaicans here. But it’s been good seeing them. It’s motivating seeing them have belief in the Jamaican team. It’s nothing but positive.’
For Tappa, the Cayman team is one they will not take lightly.
‘I’ve been to play here in Cayman a few times and the improvement of the pitch at Truman is encouraging. I’ve always seen a nice pitch here in Cayman and that is encouraging to our players as well.
‘Cayman is certainly a much improved team and we’re looking forward to a good game.’
In spite of crashing out of the Digicel Cup competition in Guadeloupe Cayman has done well this year.
For starters Cayman made history in even making it into the second round of the Digicel tournament, much less getting by arch-rival Bermuda.
Moreover Cayman has jumped some 22 spots in the FIFA world rankings. In December 2007 they were ranked 192. Now they are ranked 162.
The Jamaicans have been in good form of late as well. The Reggae Boyz are coming off resounding victories over perennial powerhouse Mexico and an ever-improving Honduras.
There are some questions though about the level of talent the Jamaicans are bringing to Cayman for the Digicel Caribbean Championships being held in Jamaica next month.
It is common knowledge that some of the more recognized names are currently playing in Europe and unable to play with the Reggae Boyz due to club commitments.
Barnes is adamant that the players that are available are just as talented and able to succeed as their overseas counterparts.
‘The local players we have in Jamaica have the same talent level as those abroad. We have good young players in Jamaica and the potential is there. The difference is the level of exposure.
‘The majority of players here in Cayman will make up the Digicel Cup team. In terms of potential and ability there is no difference between the players we have here and those in Europe. At the end of the day it’s all about trying to win the match.’
Two of the Jamaican players Barnes will have at his disposal on Sunday are Shawn Sawyers and Jermaine Hughes.
Sawyers was called up to the national team in 1998 though he was not on the World Cup team.
Hughes started with the Under-20 national side and has been in and out of the national team ever since.
Both men talked about being eager to get out on the pitch and get some good competition from Cayman.
At the press conference the issue of Barnes’ coaching experience was also mentioned. Prior to his role with the Reggae Boyz Barnes only had a brief stint with Scottish team Celtic.
Barnes says his experience and tactics with the Jamaican team would be much different from what was seen in Europe.
‘I was at Celtic for a year and I can tell you that the way the Jamaicans play and how Celtic play is different, worlds apart in fact. Because of that you can’t coach them the same.’
His inexperience has also led to speculation about the level of cohesiveness Barnes and Whitmore have. Whitmore had the job as the Reggae Boyz interim head coach and guided the team to impressive marks.
Barnes was ushered into the head coach position in place of Whitmore once he finished his prior contractual obligations with a British media house.
Whitmore made a brief statement dispelling any notion of friction or animosity present between himself and Barnes.
‘I have worked with Barnes during this whole Digicel campaign and I have a good relationship with him.’
Howard McIntosh, Chairman of the Technical Committee for the Jamaica Football Federation, talked about his pleasure with having Whitmore and Barnes working together.
‘I’m excited to have two brilliant football minds in Barnes and Whitmore coming together. I’m also excited that we have a tremendous group of players here and for the Digicel Championships.’
McIntosh went on to praise the efforts of Cayman in getting up to world-class standards.
‘For small countries to reach a high level…you have to have visionary leaders. Cayman has that in [CIFA President] Jeff Webb and Carl Brown.
‘Cayman has the beginnings of what it takes to get there. From what I’ve seen in my short time here I would like Jamaica to have three of four of the facilities that Cayman has.’
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