REGGAE BOYZ FLASH BACK RENE Simoes arrived in Jamaica in ‘October 1994 and was introduced to the Nation as Professor Rene Simoes, Technical lDirector of Jamaica’s National football team. Simoes came with a program to “establish the Brazilian philosophy of football” and was given the full responsibility for the overall development of Jamaica’s football. Simoes’ professional playing career, his academic qualifications and coaching experience in Europe, in the Middle East and of several Brazilian youth teams were formidable. Both Flavio Costa, coach of the famous 1950 team and his brother, Aymore, coach of the 1958 and 1962 teams obtained their degrees from the Physical Education School at the Universidad do Brazil. Vincente Feola coach of the 1958 champion team received his degree in Physical Education from the Sao Paula Higher School of Physical Education and Sports. Simoes immersed himself into Jamaican culture which is closely tied to the Latin culture of South America. A Christian with strong religious faith, he kept emphasizing his themes and related the problems and hopes of football to those of people’s everyday lives. Simoes psychologically connected into the Christian ‘culture’ of Jamaica and wore on the back of is coaching shirt “Jesus Saves”. On November 16, 1997, the Reggae Boyz needed a draw or a victory against Mexico to secure a place in the World Cup Final as the first English-speaking Caribbean Nation to achieve that feat. At the end of 90 pulsating minutes of play in front of a jam-packed National Stadium in Kingston, the score remained level at 0 – 0. History had been created. The resignation and departure of RENE SIMOES in February 2000 immediately raised the question of who would replace the successful Brazilian. With the “assistance” of the world’s governing body (FIFA), JFF president Horace Burrell secured the services of former Brazilian national coach Sebastien Lazaroni. Lazaroni guided the national team from April to June 2000 and resigned amid grievous complaints of the unavailability of key players for training and tournament games. Simoes’ assistant Clovis D’Olivera was inexplicably installed as TD ahead of local coach Carl Brown to pilot Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz into the 2002 Finals in Korea/Japan. FAST FORWARD On 3 June 2013, nearly 20 years since the First Coming of Rene Simoes, the Reggae Boyz slump to fourth successive defeat in 2014 WCQ matches with hand-picked federation coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore axed in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (ironically at the same site for the sacking of Simoes and Oliviera). With 2 home matches and 2 away games to be played Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz are firmly rooted at the foot of the table with 2 points gained from draws with Mexico and Panama. Brazilian Technical Director; English born and bred Adopted-Jamaican professional players; English-trained Jamaican-born professional players; MLS-trained Jamaican professional players; Local-based amateur Jamaican players ; Local-based amateur Jamaican coaches; Brazilian affinities from 1950s. Program defeated at World U17,U20, U23 levels. Jamaica’s National football IS NOW at the CROSS ROADS of CULTURE. The WAY FORWARD?? Read: From Emancipation to the Reggae Boyz (1834- 2014) and THOUGHT SOCCER: Towards Thinking Feet
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:14:41 +0000
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