Tony Becca
JAMAICA'S PERFORMANCE in the Gold Cup football tournament has been greeted with mixed feelings.
To some fans, Jamaica played well. To others, however, they did not play well.
According to those who believe they played well, Jamaica scored seven goals in three group games, they made it to the quarter-finals, and regardless of what others may say, that was good - really good.
According to those who do not believe they played well, however, Jamaica, with 10 goals against in four matches - including three each in three matches, were weak in defence and conceded too many goals, they won only one match while drawing one and losing one in the group stage, they were far from impressive in their quarter-final where they scored one goal after conceding three, they missed a penalty, and regardless of what others may say, that was not good - certainly not good enough.
NOTHING SPECIAL
Remembering Jamaica's record against Guatemala, South Africa and Mexico, and that Jamaica defeated Guatemala, drew with South Africa and lost to Mexico in the group matches, remembering that Jamaica only made it to the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed finishers, and remembering Jamaica's record against the U.S. and that they lost to the U.S., the truth is that but for one performance, one wonderful display of character, Jamaica's performance at the Gold Cup was nothing special.
In the drawn match against South Africa, Jamaica trailed three times. Each time, however, they hit back to level the score, and that was the high point of Jamaica's performance at the Gold Cup.
To come back once was good. To come back another time and then yet another time was great.
Jamaica have never defeated South Africa, they also have never lost to South Africa, that performance maintained their unbeaten record against South Africa and, on top of that, that performance guaranteed them a place in the quarter-finals.
Despite their failure to rise to the occasion against the U.S. and to put up a fight, that performance, without a doubt, demonstrated the character of the players.
In recent years, such character has been missing in the national team and while it could be the result of the influence of coach Wendell Downswell on the players, it may well be because all the players are born-and-bred Jamaicans - players who, apart from learning their football in Jamaica, grew up in Jamaica, are Jamaicans in every way, are likely to return to Jamaica, and are prepared to give everything for Jamaica.
HOME-GROWN PLAYERS
With the Jamaica Football Federation, led by president Crenston Boxhill, leaning towards home-grown players representing Jamaica and no longer being prepared to simply travel the world in search of players with a Jamaican birth certificate or foreign-born sons of Jamaicans, it could also be because the players, all of whom know and respect the flag, all of whom respect the anthem, all of whom enjoy eating ackee and saltfish, all of whom speak like each other, are motivated and confident.
All things considered, Jamaica did not play well during the Gold Cup. There were times, however, when they looked good on the ball, there were times when, probably because they grew up playing the game in Jamaica, they moved well together and looked attractive, and if the JFF stays focused, if it continues to concentrate on homegrown players, all other things being equal, the time will come when Jamaica will not only defeat some of those they are not normally expected to defeat, but will also do so in style.
