Lowe JUST DAYS after receiving a body blow with the death of utility player Steve Malcolm, the national football team received another with news that top striker Onandi Lowe will be banned for their World Cup game against Trinidad and Tobago on February 28.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was yesterday informed by FIFA's disciplinary committee by fax that the big forward was suspended for two matches and fined CHF 2,000 for headbutting Honduran defender Jose Reinaldo Clavasquin during a World Cup qualifying match. The decision is not subject to appeal.
Clavasquin, who kicked Lowe, received the same punishment.
Having missed Jamaica's game against El Salvador in November, Lowe has just the game against Trinidad and Tobago to serve in order to complete his ban.
"It is a big loss because Lowe has been one of the most powerful strikers not only in Jamaica but in CONCACAF," technical director Clovis de Oliveira said yesterday.
De Oliveira also took issue with the timing of the announcement of the ban.
"What we found very strange is why they came with this so late? That is the question now," he said. "It is strange.
"Why now? Why so late? Why this decision come now when everything is moving so nice after we played in Miami and after we played here and we showed the world what we can do.
"It is a lot of coincidence. I am not saying anything but it is just for you to think and for people to think," added de Oliveira clearly wondering if the decision was linked to Jamaica's big showdown with their regional rivals Trinidad and Tobago where FIFA vice-president is a special advisor.
What de Oliveira could also be wondering about is that on the same day Lowe committed his offence, Trinidad and Tobago defender Ancil Elcock seriously injured Mexican playmaker Cuahtemoc Blanco with a dangerous tackle. Elcock and the twin-island republic were notified of his punishment (a three-match ban and a three-month suspension from domestic competition along with a fine of CHF5,000) on January 11, 19 days before Lowe.
Additionally, Elcock had the right to an appeal which Lowe did not. Trinidad and Tobago under the urging of Warner appealed and had Elcock's ban cut to two games and the domestic suspension dropped.
The Brazilian who turned the programme around against the odds in the last round will attempt to pull off a similar feat.
"Nothing is going to stop Jamaica. Nothing is going to stop us. We realise that they are trying to make things difficult for us. We jumped at the first hurdle. Steve Malcolm was a very big loss for us but we turned this over and everything we do we are going to do for him so he is going to be upstairs helping us," de Oliveira said.
