Sporting surprise Boyz squad; Coach Whitmore downplays defeat

Richard Bryan, Sunday Gleaner Writer

National coach Theodore Whitmore was his usual calm self, but deep inside, he might have felt less assured about the progress of his charges as he watched them go down 2-1 to National Premier League team Sporting Central Academy at Brancourt, yesterday.

It was a tale of two halves for the mid-morning practice match, as the senior team preparing for an away friendly international with Honduras on Tuesday, and utilising Whitmore's seemingly set starting eleven for that game, scored through Omar Cummings in the 24th minute.

The goal was a soft one, netted from inside the six-yard area and the Reggae Boyz's excellent possession firmly kept the 1-0 lead intact at half-time.

It was a different affair, once Whitmore made seven changes at the start of the second half with Dane Richards, Jason Morrison, Keammar Daley, Demar Phillips, Jermaine Taylor, Nathan Smith and goalkeeper Dwayne Miller making way for Damion Williams, Jevaughn Watson, Keniel Moodie, Wolery Wolfe, Xavian Virgo, goalkeeper Garice McPherson and the third Englishman on 'trial', dreadlocked Marcus Bean.

The home team, however, ran them ragged much to the surprise of the good crowd on hand and possibly members of the coaching staff, gaining two well-taken goals courtesy of Bahamian Lesly St Fleur (66th) and substitute Levaughn Williams (89th). Fleur particularly troubled them constantly with his pace, and both Shavar Thomas and defender Moodie, would have seen sure cautions in an official match.

There was obvious consternation about the performance, judging by the hushed nature of comments in Portuguese among the Brazilian complement, while a degree of concern could have been read from the face of Jamaica Football Federation general secretary Horace Reid, who sat on the players bench for the duration of the game. However, Whitmore, who said little throughout, preferred to focus on what he considered the positives of the first-half. He also revealed that the first half line-up mirrored the considerations he has for the starting line-up against Honduras.

"We pretty much achieved what we wanted in the first half ... players thinking the game, a lot of possession and fairly decent play," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

"The second half was a bit more shaky once we pulled some of the players. For some of them it was their first game ... but it's a process. We keep looking at players as the main focus is the World Cup qualifications next November."

The fans, however, were less complimentary in their comments on the national team. They were openly critical of the quality of some of the players with Keniel Moodie, goalkeeper McPherson who conceded the two goals, potential English recruit Bean, Damion Williams, and captain Thomas getting most of the criticism.

For the local side, goalkeeper Sanchez Lloyd, midfielders Jamali Powell and Camaal Reid, defender Linval Lewis and Keith Kelly for the 15 minutes he was on, impressed most.

Coach Vassell 'Tutu' Reynolds said his side had achieved two objectives of the match being 'competitive' while 'maintaining momentum' ahead of their NPL clash against newcomers Highgate FC.