NOW that the Brazil 2014 show is over from a Jamaican point of view, the work for Russia 2018 must start now, says Winfried Schafer.

In fact, Reggae Boyz coach thinks now is a moment too late and the foundation for Russia should have long been under way.

“Today and tomorrow is too late, we have to start work yesterday… the young players here in Jamaica and those in the United States need our help… we have enough local players for the team to play against other countries in the Caribbean.

“The local players must go out of Jamaica and play against other teams in the Caribbean — either other teams can come to us or we can go to them maybe,” said the German in a post-match press conference after Jamaica and World Cup-bound Honduras played to a 2-2 draw inside the National Stadium on Tuesday.

Schafer, since taking over the job four matches ago, has postured from day one as a coach who appeared interested in a long-term future with the national team, but an extension of his four-month contract that expires in November is still being discussed.

“I spoke with Captain (Horace) Burrell, the boss of the football and we want the same thing… but we are still talking and I hope we can agree,” Schafer told journalists on Tuesday night.

If he and the JFF are able to agree to terms, the former Cameroon coach indicated that going forward new approaches to the technical programme have to be employed.

Schafer’s vision is for a wholesome partnership among all stakeholders of football in the drive for Russia 2018 and the long-term future of the nation’s football.

“Clearly, going forward there are many things we have to change. I have been going around the leagues and I see many players, some of them may need special training.

” I will be going to all the clubs as I want to get all presidents and coaches as we need their co-operation and with that we will have a chance for reaching the higher level… if the players come and play good for the national teams, then they can go back and play for their clubs and the clubs will be better,” he said.

Schafer used the opportunity to lament the poor preparation of the team, especially going into the final round of the CONCACAF qualification.

“All teams in the group have had training camps and went to the Gold Cup and you could see that each player knew what the other was doing and this is what we need for the future,” he noted.

In Tuesday night’s match which was of academic interest to Jamaica, but crucial for Honduras, who needed a point to book their ticket to Brazil, Schafer said he was pleased with the team’s second-half output after a roller-coaster first period where the Boyz conceded in only the first minute.

“I am very happy with my team tonight (Tuesday) as they played with courage and heart and they also had a good second half — everybody gave 100 per cent,” he said.

Meanwhile, Honduras confirmed their place as one of three automatic qualifiers from CONCACAF for the Brazil World Cup with 15 points.

Jamaica finished at the bottom of the six-nation qualifiers with five points — a poor record of five losses and equal number of draws.

The USA, who had booked their spot with two games remaining, defeated Panama 3-2 in their final match also on Tuesday to end the tournament on 22 points. Costa Rica, who also booked their spot early, edged Mexico 2-1 to finish on 18 points.

Mexico booked the fourth-place play-off spot having gathered 11 points, while Panama (eight) join Jamaica as the country failing to progress to the game’s showpiece event.

At the National Stadium in Kingston on Tuesday and in front of an estimated 4,000 die-hard Jamaican supporters, Honduras made a lightning start when Carlo Costly put his country ahead in the first minute after Jamaica failed to mop up from a corner.

The Boyz got back on level terms in what appeared less than a heartbeat when Deshorn Brown’s angled shot forced Honduras’s Jorge Claros to turn the ball into his own goal in minute number three. While Brown was up to Tuesday night claiming the goal, FIFA has officially recorded an own goal.

Jobi McAnuff, a real trooper for Jamaica, was unlucky, as his edge-of-box looper went marginally high in the 14th minute.

Honduras, who only needed a point to book their spot to Brazil 2014, were leaving nothing to chance and regained the lead when Maynar Figueroa beat goalkeeper DuWayne Kerr with a 25-yard freekick in the 33rd minute.

Left-back Demar Phillips, who is always an offensive threat for Jamaica, watched his long-range 38th-minute free kick crash onto the crossbar.

Quiet up to that point, Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson exploded in the 58th minute with a deft control, turn and shot that Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares could not handle.

And it was in this spell of Jamaican pressure that a Honduran player handled the ball in the area for a penalty. Captain Rodolph Austin coolly put away the ball, making the score 2-2, the first time Jamaica were scoring two goals in the final round of the campaign.

Teams: Jamaica — DuWayne Kerr, Wes Morgan, Adrian Mariappa, Demar Phillips, Lloyd Doyley (Alvas Powell 58th), Rodolph Austin, Je-Vaughn Watson, Jobi McAnuff, Darren Mattocks (Theo Robinson 62nd), Deshorn Brown (Ryan Johnson 77th), and Jermaine Anderson.

Subs not used: Richard McCallumn, Gariece McCallum, Marvin Elliott, Kemar Lawrence, Romario Campbell, Jermaine Johnson, Jermaine Taylor, Shaun Cummings.

Booked: Austin (31th), Phillips (36th), Watson (83rd)

Honduras — Noel Valladares Victor Blanco, Maynor Figueroa, Brayan Beckeles, Emilio Giron, Jorge Claros, Luis Garrido, Roger Espinoza (Arnold Peralta 89th), Oscar Ramirez, Carlo Costly (Jerry Bengston 84th) and Andy Rodriguez (Wilson Palacios 64th).

Subs not used: Kevin Kirckonnel, Juan Carlos Garciam Johnny Ucles, Donis Izaguirre, Juan Pablo Montes, Marvin Chavez, Edgardo Reyez, Ruben Colon, Jerry Palacios.

Booked: Beckeles (26th), Bonilla (90+)

Referee: Mark Geiger (USA)

Assistants: Mark Hurd (USA), Joe Fletcher (Canada)

Fourth Official: Silviu Petrescu