Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren says he always expected the role to be challenging but is optimistic that progress will be made soon.

In his first game in charge since his appointment at the end of July, the 63-year-old Englishman had to watch the national senior men’s team settle for a goalless draw with 10-man Cuba at the National Stadium in their opening group game of the Concacaf Nations League A on Friday.

Despite 21 shots at goal, the Jamaicans were unable to find a breakthrough against the 167th ranked Cubans who had less than 30 per cent of possession.

While disappointed with the result, McClaren says he won’t overreact after being aware of the difficult task ahead when he agreed to become the head coach.

“I knew from the beginning, from three weeks ago when I took the job,” he said in the post-game press conference. “It’s a long process and I’m bringing things to the team which I think will help us grow to the next level. I think we demonstrated that [on Friday], defensively we didn’t give them anything, we’re very strong in terms of that, our counter-press was very good from the midfield and we created chances from that and that was positive.

Jamaica’s Bobby Reid (left) battles with Cuba’s Alejandro Delgado during their Concacaf Nations League game at the National Stadium on Friday, September 6, 2024. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

“If we win that game 1-0, we’d be pleased with the performance and we move on, but did I think it was going to work just like hat on the first night? No, I didn’t. I’ve been in football a long time, sometimes it happens straight away, sometimes it doesn’t and sometimes you see 80 per cent of what you want but don’t get the result. My job is to stay calm, stay composed and keep building, growing and getting belief into this team because that type of football will take us to the next level, it just the finish that needs to come.”

Boos rang around the National Stadium at the final whistle but McClaren was full of praise for the home support.

“Like us, they feel very disappointed we didn’t win the game and that’s understandable but credit to the supporters,” he said. “Credit to the players who kept going for 95 minutes, should have been more but I’ve got to credit the supporters. My first game, three days’ preparation, great atmosphere and it just soured a bit because we didn’t get the result.”

The Boyz landed in Honduras on Saturday as they prepare for their clash on Tuesday at Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles at 9 pm (Jamaica time).

McClaren says he’s eager to the contest and to build towards his goal of qualifying Jamaica for the next FIFA World Cup.

“The more I train with them and the more I play games, the faster I learn,” he said. “Honduras on Tuesday is a great test and again. It’s part of the process. I think it’s a journey, it’s going to be a long journey.

“We have the target, which is the World Cup 2026, that’s still the target and we have to build towards that so that we’re capable of qualifying but in the meantime, we also need to stay number one in the Caribbean and to win games like we should. We didn’t, we move on and make sure on Tuesday we’re ready.”

The Reggae Boyz are fourth in the group, with Honduras and Nicaragua in first and second, respectively, on three points each.

Only the top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals of the Nations League which serves as a qualifier for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

MCCLAREN…I’ve been in football a long time, sometimes it happens straight away, sometimes it doesn’t (Photo: Naphtali Junior)