Schafer arrives today for new stint as national football coach

BY IAN BURNETT SPORTS EDITOR burnetti@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, January 28, 2014    

WINFRIED Schafer is scheduled to arrive in the island today to begin a four-year stint as head coach of Jamaica’s senior men’s team leading to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals in Russia.

The German is slated to arrive at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, directly from his native Germany.

The 63-year-old, who has coached in his homeland, as well as Africa, Asia and the Middle East, agreed to terms with the Captain Horace Burrell-led Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in recent days, after mulling over a contract presented to him last December.

Captain Burrell confirmed to the Jamaica Observer yesterday that Schafer would be returning and that the deal was reached after “extensive negotiations”, but he was not prepared to reveal much, only that “details would be announced at a later date”.

But the Observer understands that the man who led Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations title in 2002 and, on a golden run, steered the Africans to the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003, is expected to immediately announce his plans for the

senior men’s football programme, especially with the Caribbean Cup, a qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, slated for the back end of the year. He is also expected to lend his expertise and play a lead role in the restructuring of the JFF technical programmes and the operations of the age-group teams.

Part of the delay in re-signing Schafer was predicated on efforts to identify corporate partners to assist in covering his salary, but the Observer also understands that the coach was not only concerned about his own salary, but that the overall programme be supported sufficiently for him to seriously move it forward.

“He says he is not coming here (Jamaica) for a pension, but to work hard to improve the sport on the island,” the source told

the Observer.

Schafer joined the Reggae Boyz at the tail end of the failed Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign last August, after succeeding Theodore Whitmore, on a four-month contract which ran out on November 30.

The source added that Schafer wants to have all age-group teams playing under one philosophy, and that he could even ask to have direct control of the Under-23 team.

It is also thought that it is Schafer’s intention to have open dialogue and working relationships with all the National Premier League teams — coaches, physical trainers and managers in an effort to better prepare local-based players.

The Reggae Boyz are expected to face 1998 World Cup winners France in a friendly international on June 8 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, France, and could be in action earlier, as the JFF is is still in negotiations for other games, which could be finalised before long.

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Schafer arrives today for new stint as national football coach

Schafer gets passing grade from local colleagues

NEW German coach Winfried Schafer once again came in for high praises, while the Reggae Boyz were hit

hard for their lack of commitment and cohesiveness by local coaches Calvert Fitzgerald and Jerome Waite.Jamaica battled to a 1-1 draw with Costa Rica and are still rooted to the bottom of the hexagonal with four points with only a mathematical chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Finals.Both Costa Rica, on 15 points, and leaders USA with 16 points following their 2-0 blanking of Mexico, have secured their berths to Brazil 2014.Honduras, on 11 points, are out of the Reggae Boyz’s reach, but both Panama and Mexico on eight points each, are in sight for that fourth play-off spot.Veteran coach Calvert Fitzgerald, the man in charge of Rivoli United, believes Schafer’s counter-attacking tactic was the best suited for the occasion, contrary to popular belief that a desperate all-out attack for maximum points would be the ideal thing.“We started slowly and were playing on the break and I didn’t have a problem with it. Costa Rica being at the head of the table going to the World Cup at this stage must have been a very good team, so I didn’t expect us to come and play open football against them,” argued Fitzgerald.“Being that Costa Rica is a good attacking team, if we could catch them on the break, then I thought that was our only chance of victory,” he pointed out.“If we had played open football they could have burnt us because they have some extremely quick and skilful players in attack. So we had to hold, it wasn’t the prettiest idea, but we had to try to catch them on the counter,” he reiterated.“I thought the plan worked to near perfection except that a most unfortunate mistake by the goalkeeper cost us. We finally got the goal that we wanted but we had let in a goal,” Fitzgerald added.He pointed out that despite Jamaica’s gloomy position, a draw against Costa Rica, can be seen as a positive in light of the fact that it was the top team in the group versus the bottom-placed team.“So to get a point from that team must mean that we are doing something better than we were doing before. Had we had this form from the beginning of the hexagonal round maybe we would be right up there with the top teams,” said Fitzgerald.Meanwhile, Waite, the coach of Charlie Smith High School, puts the blame on the players for Jamaica’s current predicament.“The time that the coach get the team we can’t expect any miracle. But the present crop of players are not playing a system, but individuals doing their own things,” said Waite, who led Arnett Gardens to back-to-back Premier League titles in 2001 and 2002.“In the defensive third, the workload will be a lot cause they spend more time defending while in the midfield (and) there are so much room for improvement there. They are playing in spurts and not playing cohesively as a unit, while upfront, I can’t find a word for it, but it’s one of our downfalls. There is no teamwork, we are not working together collectively… the transition is too slow,” emphasised Waite.He added that “there is too much room for improvement” knowing that the players are professionals and “I have to wonder, what they are really doing at the professional level,” he said.“This coach has not been given the opportunity to spend time to work with the players. He has the knowledge towards the game he knows what a system is all about and the little time that he is here he knows that Jamaica cannot play the 4-4-2 format,” said Waite.“So he took the time out, analysed the individuals and made the adjustment and played three in front of the goal, compact the midfield and find two players who hopefully can get the job done,” he noted.Reggae Boyz striker Marlon King (left) gets by Costa Rica’s Christian Gamboa during their World Cup qualifying match at the National Stadium on Tuesday night. The game ended 1-1. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

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Schafer gets passing grade from local colleagues

"Tuffy"s" redemption - Schafer salutes Boyz for giving ‘100 per cent’

These are certainly not the best of times for Jamaica’s football, but in the gloom a bright spark emerged in its fading Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign in the shape of the irrepressible striker Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson.

Sadly, not many Jamaicans were inside the National Stadium to witness the spectacular return of ‘Tuffy’, as local fans frustrated with the performance of the Reggae Boyz surrendered the home turf to thousands of Costa Rican supporters who filled out the grandstand.The proverbial 12th man that the players had so banked on for support, did not show for the game. Instead, the once impregnable ‘Office’ was transformed into a sea of red, blue and white of the Costa Ricans, who drowned out the faint Jamaican chorus in the distance.‘The Office’ was conquered.The Waterhouse striker — who is very popular with the people of Jamaica with his free-scoring ways in the local Premier League, showmanship and his onfield enthusiasm — made a glorious return to the national set-up by scoring in the Reggae Boyz’s must-win match against Costa Rica on Tuesday night inside the National Stadium.Anderson’s time-added goal gave Jamaica a stay of execution in the hexagonal play-offs when he equalised against the Central Americans after coming on as a sub in the 68th minute.Another substitute, Randall Brenes, had given the Costa Ricans the lead in the 74th minute.Jamaica head coach Winfried Schafer praised Anderson for the role he played since entering the field of play.“When ‘Tuffy’ came in he changed the game for us, he came in with power, I am not happy that we got only one goal as he had a big chance for one before, but he got one after that,” said the German, in charge of his second game after guiding the Boyz in last Friday’s 0-0 tie away to Panama.Schafer, speaking to reporters after Tuesday night’s game, said it was always a part of the plan to inject Anderson at some point of the contest.“We will need ‘Tuffy’ at home for the last 15 minutes or so, I had said… for this match we needed a good stadium, as you see there were more Costa Ricans in the stadium than Jamaicans. When ‘Tuffy’ came in, the supporters gave us the second power to our players,” said the former Cameroon coach.But Schafer responded to queries of why the Waterhouse man was not given more time on the pitch.“You cannot play a player against Costa Rica (for the whole match) and he is not (fully) fit… but I am happy about why I take him in,” he noted.Reflecting on the match itself, the new Boyz head coach said it was an “up and down” game where his players “gave 100 per cent”.“This team played for mama, papa, grandpa, friend. I am very happy about this team. Wes Morgan, who got his passport only three weeks ago, fought like a tiger for Jamaica and (Jobi) McAnuff, like in Panama, gave everything for this team,” Schafer said as he fielded questions at a post-match press conference.As the Boyz look to their next assignment against the USA on October 11 in Kansas City, the German said he’s hoping to get Demar Phillips back as the left-sided player would bring an offensive boost cutting inside as he likes to do.“Phillips is one of the best players on the left side and I hope he will come back in time from injury,” Schafer noted.Costa Rica, meanwhile, moved to 15 points in the CONCACAF hexagonal play-offs, and secured qualification along with the USA, who defeated Mexico 2-0 at home to boost their points tally to 16, for a safe passage to the Brazil 2014 World Cup Finals.Honduras followed up their 2-1 victory over Mexico at the Azteca last Friday with a 2-2 result against Panama at home to move to 11 points, while Panama inched up a place to fourth on eight points, the same as Mexico.Jamaica advanced to four points, but remained firmly rooted at the bottom of the six-nation group, but having failed to gather maximum points and with nearest rivals Mexico and Panama doing likewise, the Reggae Boyz were kept on life support, as they still have a mathematical chance of stealing fourth place, should they register maximum points from their two remaining games, and neither Mexico nor Panama score a win in either of their games. The team that finishes in fourth place will earn another chance at qualification when they engage the winner of the Oceania region, New Zealand, in a home-and-away play-off series in mid-November.Jamaica will oppose the USA on October 11 in that country, and then Honduras at home four days later, while Mexico welcome Panama to the Azteca on October 11, before travelling to the already qualified Costa Rica on October 15, as Panama entertain the US on the same day.Jamaica’s goalscorer Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson (right) prepares to block a clearance by Costa Rica’s Giancarlo Gonzalez during their CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier inside the National Stadium on Tuesday night. The match ended 1-1. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)Reggae Boyz midfielder Garath McCleary (left) prepares to shoot as Costa Rica’s Junior Diaz closes in during their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier inside the National Stadium on Tuesday night. The match ended 1-1. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

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"Tuffy"s" redemption - Schafer salutes Boyz for giving ‘100 per cent’

Schafer undecided on Reggae Boyz strike pair

Sport

Friday, September 06, 2013 | 7:52 AM

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Reggae Boyz-coach Winfried Schafer up to Thursday night appeared to be grappling with deciding on his two strikers for Friday’s World Cup qualifying match against Panama at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium.Though the starting 11 has not been made official, there were telltale signs Thursday night of a possible starting team.Without doubt, veteran captain Donovan Ricketts will start in goal, in what is said to be his 100th international game.In the 3-5-2 formation, Lloyd Doyley, Jermaine Taylor and new boy Wes Morgan are expected to start in defence. In the spread out five-prong midfield, Alvas Powell could be the man out right, with Obrian Woodbine operating on the opposite side. Between them, should be Rodolph Austin, Jobi McAnuff and Garath McCleary.It is clear that Marlon King will lead the attack, but coach Schafer is still mulling the complete pairing. He has Jamaica’s all-time leading goal-scorer Luton Shelton, Ryan Johnson, Darren Mattocks and Jermaine Beckford as the chief possibilities.And of course, there’s also Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson at his disposal.The match starts at 9:00 pm.– Sean Williams

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Schafer undecided on Reggae Boyz strike pair

Boyz cling to hope - Coach Schafer remains optimistic

DESPITE not having a practice game prior to their do-or-die World Cup qualifying away match-up against Panama on September 6, Reggae Boyz head coach Winfried Schafer has instead made himself busy by scouting and talking to several key overseas-based players.

The 63-year-old German, who was appointed in July, remains upbeat that the Reggae Boyz can pull off the miracle and still qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year.“Right now we have a 30 per cent chance, but when we win against Panama that will be 60 per cent and maybe Costa Rica or Honduras lose the next match, I don’t know, it’s not easy,” said Schafer.The former Bundesliga stalwart, who scored 46 goals in 403 German top-flight appearances as a player and who led Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations title in 2002, said he wouldn’t have taken the Jamaican job if he thought it was hopeless.“I believe I can change from the last matches to success in the few days before the match against Panama, I will have to instil belief in the players,” said Schafer.The Reggae Boyz are currently at the bottom of the six-team group on two points behind Panama (six), Honduras (seven), Mexico (eight), Costa Rica (11), and the United States of America (13) with only four games remaining.Schafer said he was shocked when he looked at the table and saw Jamaica with only two points, and after careful video analysis, he was convinced that the Reggae Boyz should have been in a better position.“I have to talk to the players, I need information from my players. I need opinion of the players why Jamaica have only two points. What we have to do for better. Why we lost against United States. Why we lost against Panama. I want opinions of the players,” he explained.“The important thing is that the players come here with motivation and only these players will show up in my team,” said Schafer.With all six teams in the Hexagonal round busy recently with friendly games, Jamaica were unable to secure one on the last FIFA calendar date set aside for friendly internationals. But Schafer was not idle.“I was in America at the CONCACAF Gold Cup which featured four of our opponents in the World Cup qualifying,” noted Schafer.“I watched Honduras, Costa Rica, United States, Mexico and Panama after I was in England and watched six Championship matches, and importantly, I talked to my Reggae Boyz,” he noted.While in the United Kingdom where he met and spoke with several players, five of whom are captains of Championships teams in England.Although he couldn’t remember all the names, he did mention one Westley Morgan who is the skipper of Leicester City and who is regarded as the best centre back in the Championship. Morgan, 29, may be a replacement for the injured Nyron Nosworthy.“I saw some new players while in England, but I cannot tell you now which players are on the list. When Captain (Horace) Burrell comes back we will have a press conference and talk about it,” he told the Jamaica Observer.President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell (left) greets Reggae Boyz head coach Winfried Schafer at last month’s press conference at the Federation’s offices to present the new coach.

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Boyz cling to hope - Coach Schafer remains optimistic