NEWLY APPOINTED technical director of Jamaica’s football, Brazilian Alfredo Montesso, says he embraces the view that the qualifiers for Brazil 2014 may not be known until the very last kick of the CONCACAF play-offs.

The Brazilian noted further that for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz to be in the reckoning for a spot from a possible four, they must maximise on points in two home matches on June 4 against Mexico and the USA on June 7.

“What I believe is that the qualification will be decided in the last rounds and it is very important for us to capitalise on points now that will give us the opportunity to remain competitive as it will be a very tough competition among the six teams, so it’s important to remain in the group that will qualify,” said Montesso, who continues to act as deputy to head coach Theodore Whitmore.

He said that not only are the Boyz targeting maximum six points from the quickfire home matches, but are desirous of snatching an additional three from Honduras away on June 11.

“Our goal in these three games is to finish with nine points, but we know the reality that it won’t be easy to achieve that, though I don’t think any team will do that in this competition. We have to capitalise, especially in the games at home,” said the veteran of Jamaica’s football, having first arrived in the island in 1996.

Montesso, a physical trainer with the Rene Simoes-led technical team in the successful 1998 campaign, said that Jamaica’s chances of a World Cup repeat this time around is as good any other team, even as he spoke against the background of a preparation phase that leaves a lot to be desired when compared to the opponents.

“I think our chances are good, just like it is for every country that is in the qualifiers, but ball possession is something we have to work on,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Montesso said the technical team has its work cut out for it. The game approach has to improve on what was delivered in the three matches of the CONCACAF Hexagonal so far, and he offered quick reflection on each of those encounters.

“I think it was the easiest game (against Costa Rica) we played and we lost 2-0. We know that Costa Rica have good players and have a good team, but it’s the way they played as I don’t think they are playing good football right now.

“It is very interesting, as I said to you, the (easiest game) we had we didn’t capitalise on points, but we played against Mexico (0-0), which was a very difficult game and we got one point and we could have beaten them because we got the chances for that,” outlined the Brazilian, who is on his third stint with the national programme.

Montesso suggested that he was disappointed with the below-par ball possession in Jamaica’s 1-1 draw against Panama.

“In the Panama game we had less ball possession and this is something we have been working a lot on, as we won’t be competitive against those teams… playing at home we cannot have less ball possession as we would be giving them (opponents) the gun to kill us,” he said.

Jamaica currently sit at the bottom of the six-nation qualifying tournament with two points after three matches. Panama lead with five, followed by Costa Rica, USA, and Honduras on four points each, and Mexico on three.

At the end of the home-andaway series, three teams from CONCACAF will gain automatic berths to Brazil 2014, with the fourth-placed finisher to engage the champion of Oceania for an additional place.