OBVIOUSLY, it’s disappointing that the Jamaica Under-17 football squad came so close, yet failed to qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup later this year.

Yet, this newspaper cannot but admire the effort by the young Reggae Boyz in Honduras. We were especially pleased by their grit against the United States in two games.

Needing to beat the Americans in order to enhance their chances of a direct berth to the World Cup Finals, the Jamaica Under-17s kept their opponents at bay and found the vital goal to secure a rare victory over a well-resourced and powerful team.

Drawn to face the same opponents in the play-offs, the Jamaicans fell short, but only just, missing out in the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Jamaicans will not have forgotten their frustration and dismay just two months earlier at the performance of the Under-20s on home soil. Back then, this newspaper described the Jamaican show as “shambolic at best”.

In the case of the Under-17s, we believe the opposite is true. The team under the guidance of coach Mr Andrew Edwards seemed to have a plan and an ability to stick to that plan. There was clear evidence of individual flair, even if as a team the overall effect was less pleasing to the eye than many football lovers would have liked. Perhaps most importantly, the Jamaicans seemed supremely fit. In short, Jamaica’s Under-17s seemed pretty well prepared despite the well-known resource constraints.

It seems to us that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) — which we urged two months ago to rethink its approach to age-group football — should take a searching look at how the Under-17s were prepared with a view to going forward. As well, our football administrators should make every effort to keep this group together as much as possible as the nation looks to the next Under-20 campaign. We believe the failure to pay due attention to continuity adversely affected the last Under-20 campaign.

Lastly, we feel compelled to applaud Mr Edwards for his column seeking to explain his philosophical approach which dictated the tactical style used in the Under-17s qualifiers. Mr Edwards says his fast, direct style is ideally suited to the Jamaican personality and culture.

We recall last year in Haiti Mr Edwards’ style of play was rejected by Haitian coach Mr Marc Cheze as outdated “English style” and “kick and rush”. In the language of football those are most unflattering terms.

However, Mr Edwards in his recent column has sought to liken his philosophy to current trends in modern international football. Crucially, Mr Edwards is encouraging critique and comment from others as part of a wider debate on what should be the Jamaican style and philosophy of football.

It’s a debate that is long overdue. We urge Jamaica’s top coaches, football thinkers, the JFF’s technical committee and head coach of the senior team, Mr Winfried Shaefer, to be part of the discussion.