The Cayman team

Jamaica’s starting team

By Mwangi Ngamate
mwangi@caymannetnews.com

The Cayman Islands National Football Technical Director, Carl Brown, has vowed to take the team to greater heights following the team playing Jamaica recently.

Mr Brown said the encounter with Jamaica last Sunday was an eyeopener to the players as well as the football fraternity since strategies have to be changed.

That the team forwards were no match for the giant-looking Jamaican defenders cannot be understated. Mr Brown said that weight training is needed to have Cayman players gain more weight; as well as strength training, these are new ways that the team will improve so that it can be more competitive.

He noted that although talent was available in the Cayman Islands, stronger players were needed so that they could have a chance while playing teams with big players. Mr Brown noted that football is both a skills as well as a physical game, which needed the combination of the two qualities to come up with a formidable team.

Otherwise, Mr Brown said that he was impressed with the Cayman’s national side with the passes that they made. He said that this was a good starting point, noting that the country would be hosting the Digicel Finals in 2013.

“The team should now meet other regional giants such as Trinidad & Tobago as well as Bahamas so that the boys can have international experience,” he told Cayman Net News in an interview.

The Coach said that playing only local matches left players with over confidence and leaving much to chance in international games. “Today’s experience, our players were able to have a measuring stick they can use to better their skills,” said Mr Brown.

“Our objectives were fulfilled to a satisfactory level,” Mr Brown said. The Coach noted that whereas winning is a good yard stick for any game, other statistics such as ball control, defensive passes, offensive passes, shots on goal, corners awarded were vital variables that helped any technical director on knowing the progress of the team.

Mr Brown gave an example of Spain in the just-concluded Confederation Cup in which the team despite losing had made up to 205 passes in a single half of the game.

He said that this was a good way of building up together because a team that has been able to maintain good ball possession is able to withstand pressure in the field.

All in all, Jamaica emerged with a 4-1victory during the Sunday game which was played in front of a capacity crowd at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.

Brian Bayliss opened the score sheet with a strike at the 22nd minute. A few minutes later Calvin Jefford played to the Jamaican defenders necessitating a free kick. Rene Carter converted the free kick, making history in scoring the first goal against Jamaica since Coach Theodore Tappa Whitmore took over the helm of the team from John Barnes.

But the equalizer was short-lived as Rafe Wolfe of Jamaica scored a low shot to put his side in the lead once again.

A 40-yard free kick by Oneil Taylor of Cayman Islands did not bring the miracle that Carter had started earlier as DuWayne Kerr the Jamaican keeper was equal to it.

Keammar Daley, sporting Jersey number 16 scored another low shot for Jamaica in the 69 minute.
To seal Cayman’s fate, Jason Morrison hit Jamaica’s fourth goal in 82nd minute of the game.