Sport

'It could go either way' Former Haitian coach won't call game

By GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

HE IS THE one man who has matched wits against them both in recent competition. But Fernando Clavijo who, until last week was Haiti's national football coach, is still unclear who will have the real edge when Jamaica meet the United States in a World Cup qualifier on August 18 at the National Stadium.

The game, he said, should be that tough and competitive.

"It is going to be extremely hard for both the U.S. and Jamaica," Clavijo told STAR Sports recently.

He should know. Clavijo was the tactical mind behind an ambitious Haiti team in a mid-March friendly international against the U.S. in Miami's Orange Bowl, which the Americans managed to draw 1-1 on a late goal.

On June 12 he was again at the helm when Haiti gave Jamaica a big scare while settling for a similar result in a World Cup qualifier at the same venue. The Haitians would later lose 0-3 to the Reggae Boyz in the return leg at "The Office" in Kingston a week later.

Now Clavijo sees two teams with different styles headed for football's version of a classic chess match - the physically strong, experienced and organised U.S. versus the skillful Boyz playing in front of their fervent fans, with the fate of each side hinging to a large extent on what the other will allow it to do.

And while FIFA's most recent rankings have the U.S. nicely poised at 10, Clavijo warned the Americans against over confidence against the 54th-ranked Reggae Boyz, who have never beaten the U.S.

"Themselves," he said when asked about the biggest weakness of the Americans. "They can't take the game (against Jamaica) for granted and I don't think they will. They know Jamaica is a very good team."

Excellent goalkeepers

Clavijo believes the U.S. are strong at the back with physical defenders such as Carlos Bocanegra and Eddie Pope, plus three excellent goalkeepers to choose from in English-based pros Casey Keller, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel. The Americans are also solid in midfield, led by playmaker Claudio Reyna and the attacking duo of DaMarcus Beasely and Landon Donovan. To be successful, he said, the U.S must take control early and score to silence the home supporters.

"It is going to be crucial the first 20 to 25 minutes in Kingston (the U.S.) have to take the crowd away and put pressure (on Jamaica)," explained Clavijo, who admitted that Haiti's players did not respond well to the enthusiastic support the Boyz received at "The Office" in June.

The Reggae Boyz, he added, will have to stop the deliberate ball possession game of the Americans.

"Jamaica need to make sure they think about the way they play," said the Uruguayan-born former U.S. international. "If they allow the U.S. to think and have space to play and have possession of the ball, the U.S. will win. The U.S. like to set their own pace. They have a lot of confidence. With the results they have, they should be."

Clavijo also believes Jamaica will be at a disadvantage having changed head coaches just weeks before the U.S. game, despite the fact that technical Director Carl Brown, who was replaced by Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni, is still in Jamaica's camp.

"They have an unproven coach with Jamaica," he said of Lazaroni, who once coached Brazil's World Cup team, but who took over Jamaica's senior squad last month. "I do not know how well he knows CONCACAF, Jamaica and the U.S. Jamaica have a handicap with that. Absolutely. I may be wrong, because I don't know how up-to-date he is with CONCACAF and the U.S. (But) you are going to need someone who knows the area (CONCACAF)."

Clavijo said he was not close to Brown, but had admired his work. And though not familiar with the circumstances leading to Brown stepping aside as head coach, he was surprised at the timing of the change by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

"(Brown) got some good results against some very good teams," said Clavijo. "He got his team playing well at the right time especially the second game against Haiti. I don't know the man personally, but I liked the way he did things."

Stern reminders

According to Clavijo, both teams have had stern reminders recently that the time to get their games in top gear is now.

"The game we played in March opened up a sense of urgency with the U.S. The result against Haiti woke them up," he said, while allowing that the U.S. team is "getting better and better every day."

Jamaica, he added, had been "surprised" by Haiti in Miami and he expects the Boyz to be far more focused against the U.S.

"Today I know Jamaica is looking at the U.S. in a different way than they looked at Haiti," he explained. "I believe that. No doubt."

Up to the time of the interview, Clavijo said, no representative from either the Jamaica or U.S. camp had approached him for information on the opponent. Still, if they did, he would gladly offer his input.

"If U.S. coach Bruce Arena called I would give any information that would be useful to him," said Clavijo, who says he is a board member of the United States Soccer Federation. "Same for Jamaica. Absolutely. We coaches do communicate. Remember, the final decision is with the coach, how he uses that information."

But despite all the information he has gathered on both Jamaica and the U.S., from many scouting trips and watching hours of game film, Clavijo is still not ready to make a prediction on the August 18 match-up, which he plans to attend.

"I'm not gonna pick a winner," he said.