The coaches for both the Reggae Boyz and Cayman thought their recent encounter went well.
On Sunday Truman Bodden Sports Complex hosted a huge international friendly between the national Jamaica and Cayman football teams.
Some 3,000 people witnessed the Reggae Boyz just get by Cayman with a final score of 2-0.
The goals came from MLS standout Omar Cummings and Jamaican talent Roland Dean. The other big-name international player Rodolph Austin also played well, captaining the side.
Jamaica Head Coach John Barnes, revered for his glory days on the pitch with English sides Watford and Liverpool, thought the match ebbed and flowed.
‘The match was fine, better than the Latino game during the week. I was disappointed in the second half performance as I felt the team did waste opportunities.
‘In the first half we did well and also at the start of the second half. I think the changes we made in the second half changed the team’s chemistry. But all in all everything went as planned.’
The match was Barnes’ first as head coach. He was awarded the position just last month after fulfilling contractual obligations for a British media house.
Barnes took the position over from his assistant coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore. While in charge the Jamaicans had impressive results, most notably wins over regional powers Mexico and Honduras.
In spite of that experience against premier sides Whitmore was adamant that Cayman gave the Jamaicans a good game.
‘It was a fairly contested game. The Cayman team showed a lot of character.
‘I have plenty respect for the Cayman side as they played a dynamic and well-disciplined game.’
The Jamaicans were in Cayman from 3 November. They participated in a number of training sessions and also played an exhibition match with a Cayman Select invitational side.
Cayman Head Coach and Technical Director Carl Brown felt the match was a good showing for the Cayman squad.
‘It went well. Sometimes we tend to judge the end results and nothing else. But it was good that the guys were able to come out and play hard and in the end the team did well.’
Going into the match much was made about nearly all of the overseas and more established Jamaican players being unavailable to play due to club commitments.
For Brown the Jamaicans are a good side, no matter where the players are based, and they can make the country proud.
‘To be honest the Jamaican team we saw will see very few players for the World Cup qualifier this month. However I think we will see most of the players in the Digicel Cup.
‘At the end of the day the players will do the country proud.’
There were also some questions about how Barnes and Whitmore would gel on the sidelines.
In Brown’s opinion, though it’s early to say for sure, they should make for a great coaching duo.
‘It’s tough to mark them now especially after seeing them in just one game. But they showed very good teamwork and I’m certain they’ll be a good team going forward.’
The Reggae Boyz returned to Jamaica on Monday. There they will begin last-minute preparations for their next World Cup qualifier match against Canada next Wednesday 19 November.
From there the Reggae Boyz will end the year competing in the final stage of the Digicel Caribbean Championships being held in Kingston, Jamaica.
Jamaica will be up against a tough Group A line-up that includes Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
Grenada beat Cayman 4-2 in the second round of the competition while Trinidad represented the Caribbean at the last World Cup.
Many have wondered if the Reggae Boyz will come back to Cayman for training in the future. For Whitmore that request should not face any issues going into the future.
‘Our president [of the Jamaica Football Federation Captain Horace Burrell] was here and he has a good relationship with CIFA.
‘CIFA has a good relationship with Jamaican football and we have no problems with them.’
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