Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Duckie hails ‘Tappa’ as ‘one of the smartest’ coaches
(From left) Donovan Duckie, Theodore Whitmore and goalkeeper coach WarrenBarrett during a training session in Antalya, Turkey, on Monday. (Photo: Richard Bell)
Football, International Football, Sports
Sean Williams | Ass. Sports Editor  
January 31, 2018

Duckie hails ‘Tappa’ as ‘one of the smartest’ coaches

…Says Whitmore’s tactical shrewdness key to draw with South Korea

ANTALYA, Turkey — Donovan Duckie admits that he is impressed with the tactical shrewdness of Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore.

The Waterhouse coach, who assisted the Jamaican France World Cup star on the tour of Turkey, said working side-by-side with the “maestro” was an eye-opener.

“What I have realised being on the outside of the programme, I have always looked at the track record of Whitmore, and now being on the inside I am going to tell you something that you won’t believe, but I think he is one of the smartest Jamaican coaches I have ever seen,” said Duckie, one of Jamaica’s well-travelled, top-flight coaches.

“I am talking about his (Whitmore’s) philosophy, his vision for Jamaica’s football, his guidance in training, the drills that we use to prepare, how we work together, the chemistry I saw between us and his direction on the bench today (Tuesday) in terms of how we adjusted ourselves,” he added.

Duckie, who is seen as the Messiah for rescuing Waterhouse FC from the doldrums of the Red Stripe Premier League, made the point that Jamaica’s football would suffer if it should lose a footballing mind like Whitmore’s.

“This is a person we need to trust, believe in and go forward with,” he said.

Reflecting on Jamaica’s 2-2 tie with World Cup-destined South Korea at the Mardan Stadium on a warm Antalya afternoon Tuesday, Duckie thinks the team was spot on with its approach despite everything.

“It was a decent result for us against a team that has been in preparation for very long periods versus us who have had just a few days. But this result, no doubt, will build the confidence, especially that of the local players.

“The game worked to plan, and you saw what we did in training. In the Romanian game we used the 4-4-2, we changed to 5-3-2, then we changed to 5-4-1… I thought for the game (against South Korea) we would have gone back for 4-4-2, but we spoke and he (Whitmore) said, ‘let’s go with this (5-3-2) because I think that based on their characteristics we will match them with this system’,” Duckie told Jamaican journalists working the beat here.

The former Humble Lion coach said much of what was worked out on the training pitch manifested itself in the game.

“The training session before the game you saw that it was specific with a back phase of five because we knew we wanted to close their flanks, we didn’t want to allow them a lot of space inside the box because we knew their number nine player (Kim Shinwook) was their target player, and he scored twice today (Tuesday) and we could have solved that problem with more camps and more training sessions,” he opined.

Duckie, who has had stints with the national programme before, also spoke to the tactical delivery of the team in keeping with the ebb and flow of the game.

“In our tactical phase I thought we did brilliantly, and we got the go-ahead goal early and they (South Korea) had to chase the game.

“We know that Barcelona’s philosophy is big around the world by controlling the game in possession, but we also knew that we could control the game out of possession, and as such, we allowed them to play in certain areas of the pitch as we allowed them to play to the sides. So, for the game today (Tuesday), I thought it was a success based on how we planned,” Duckie ended.

Since arriving in Turkey for the two matches, the first being against Romanian club CS Gaz Metan Medias which ended 1-1, Duckie was observed to be very involved in the training sessions and was active from the bench in both matches.

Also, he could be seen regularly consulting with head coach Whitmore before, during and after training sessions.

Duckie, according to Jamaica Football Federation president Michael Ricketts, was not only fitting in for the unavailable assistant coach Jerome Waite, but was a part of a programme the federation is pursuing to expose some the country’s most promising coaches.

“Duckie is here in the absence of Jerome Waite who is the assistant to Theodore Whitmore…When we had discussions with Waite and realised he was going to be unavailable, we looked around for a coach who would be on a shortlist that the JFF had established.

“With him (Duckie) doing so well, we thought we would have him understudy Whitmore… We have a list of coaches that we want to expose and Duckie is one of them who we thought would benefit, thus he was chosen in collaboration with senior coach Whitmore,” Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer.

— Sean Williams

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Trump signs security deal with Greenland, Denmark at UN
International News, Latest News
Trump signs security deal with Greenland, Denmark at UN
September 22, 2026
UNITED NATIONS (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a security deal with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark, in a cerem...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Autopsy shows Hayden Panettiere died from drug overdose
International News, Latest News
Autopsy shows Hayden Panettiere died from drug overdose
September 22, 2026
An autopsy completed by the Greenville County Coroner's Office in South Carolina revealed that American actress Hayden Panettiere died from the toxic ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
No criminal charges in the death of Nolan Wells—reports
International News, Latest News
No criminal charges in the death of Nolan Wells—reports
September 22, 2026
A grand jury in the United States will reportedly not bring criminal charges against anyone in connection with the death of Mississippi teenager Nolan...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
G2K lauds Holness on CPA election
Latest News, News
G2K lauds Holness on CPA election
September 22, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Generation 2000 (G2K) is congratulating Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness on her election as vice-chairperson...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Hurricane Polo reaches top category 5 off Mexico’s Pacific coast
International News, Latest News
Hurricane Polo reaches top category 5 off Mexico’s Pacific coast
September 22, 2026
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP)—Hurricane Polo reached maximum category 5 strength off the Pacific coast of Mexico on Tuesday but is expected to stay at sea...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Beenie Man hits Billboard Rhythmic Airplay chart, first in 20 years
Entertainment, Latest News
Beenie Man hits Billboard Rhythmic Airplay chart, first in 20 years
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer 
September 22, 2026
For You , credited to producer Kemar McGregor, Beenie Man and Snoop Dog, has entered the Billboard Rhythmic Airplay chart at #39. This is Beenie Man's...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Big JPL wins for Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens
Latest News, Sports
Big JPL wins for Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens
September 22, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former champions Big JPL wins for Waterhouse and Arnett Gardensand Arnett Gardens FC scored big wins, their first of the Jamaica P...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
UN warns super El Nino a ‘significant’ threat to world health
International News, Latest News
UN warns super El Nino a ‘significant’ threat to world health
September 22, 2026
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP)—El Nino represents a "significant" threat to global health, the United Nations warned on Tuesday, as the world braces for a ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct