Fans disappointed at Boyz’ insipid performance
JAMAICAN football supporters were left disappointed and even angry as they departed the National Stadium late on Friday. And they had all right to be.
A night that promised so much for them was spoiled by a toxic combination.
In one corner they saw a desperately disjointed and shambolic performance from the home team. In the other they were forced to bear the sight of the Panama unit — so efficient and controlled, yet with loads of artistry to spare.
The 0-2 defeat hurts Jamaica’s chances to be one of two teams to advance from a tough Group B, that also includes Costa Rica and Haiti. But the scoreline could have been much worse.
Armando Cooper gave the visitors the lead late in the first half when Jamaica’s goalkeeper DuWayne Kerr misjudged a swerving free kick.
Just minutes into the second half the Panamanians got a second when miscommunication between Kerr and Wes Morgan left the defender to miscue the ball into his own net.
On the eve of the game, there were rumours of discontent within the team due to disagreements between players and the Jamaica Football Federation.
Clyde Jureidini, a regarded local football analyst, said the display from the Boyz suggested off-field distractions.
“There are reports …[of] a team talk [on Thursday] about benefits for the players, rather than football for the country. To me that’s wrong. There’s nothing right about that. The team must play for the country; and the benefits, well there’s always time to discuss that. That wasn’t even concluded, so we didn’t conclude off the field and we definitely didn’t perform on the field,” Jureidini said, obviously one of the many feeling let down after witnessing an insipid show from the Boyz.
“I think the team was distracted. I think the team was a not a team. The strength of this current team has been a team spirit, a team unity and a defensive posture. I saw none of those three traits tonight. There wasn’t a team on the field; it was a collection of 11 individuals.
“They looked like they didn’t train, they looked like they weren’t prepared, and they came with a very old English style of football of punting the ball long, to head-on the ball and play off scraps. It didn’t work!” he added.
The Jamaicans were overrun in midfield as Rodolph Austin and Je-Vaughn Watson saw little of the ball. And when Panama were in possession, the pair just could not plug the gaps as the bubbly visitors moved smartly with and without the football.
Assistant Coach Miguel Coley, standing on the touchline for the suspended Winfried Schaefer, made second-half changes, but those had little effect. On the day, Jamaica were a distant second best.
“The [Jamaica] goalkeeper and [defender Michael] Hector made most of the passes in the game, taking out the midfield. Congrats to Panama who played a very composed game, a very technical game, a very accurately executed and professional game. They played short passes on the ground with penetration. Deservedly… a two-goal margin is a fair victory for Panama who played better than us, I think, in every department of the game,” Jureidini, also the general manager of club team Harbour View FC, said.
“There has to be blame on our goalkeeper for both goals. [But] instead of picking out our goalkeeper for those errors, I think the team is where the error was. The co-ordination wasn’t there, the understanding wasn’t there, practice wasn’t there, and the team spirit wasn’t there,” he charged.
The majority of the players in the current squad had not been together since playing in the CONMEBOL Copa America and CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments in the summer.
Jureidini said the lack of chemistry on the field was glaring.
“This team was prepared months ago to be in the Copa America and Gold Cup, and then we didn’t play together again until tonight and everybody was playing at sixes and sevens,” he said.