western bureau

In light of our inability to properly pay our teachers, nurses and police, I think paying new national coach, Bora Milutinovic, the approx-imately US$4 million (J$263 million) over four years, which he is contracted for, is morally wrong.

While I do appreciate the importance of sports in nation-building, as a poor country laden with social and economic deficiencies, paying one man so much money without any guarantee that he will actually take us to the World Cup is not the easiest thing to fathom.

However, the proverbial horse is already gone through the gate and since coach Bora has already signed, I guess we might as well throw our full support behind him in the hope that he might be able to duplicate what René Simoes did in 1998.

fitting tribute

One could also argue that since Jamaica, through icons such as former Prime Minister Michael Manley and reggae icon Peter Tosh, contributed so much to breaking the back of apartheid in South Africa, it would probably be a fitting tribute for Jamaica to be among the nations playing 'ball' in a free South Africa in 2010.

Since we cannot do anything about coach Bora's hefty salary and the additional cost the programme is likely to attract through players' salaries and other financial needs, I suppose that out of patriotism, we might as well bite the bullet and throw our support behind the programme.

However, although I stand ready to support coach Bora, I am little bit concerned about our readiness to provide him with the manpower, in terms of players, that is needed to develop a success programme. Unlike 1998 when we had a strong local base to build from, this time around, the basket is almost empty.

I am a little big worried that I am not seeing any local players whom I could be honestly compared to the likes of Linval Dixon, Durrant Brown, Walter Boyd, Ian Goodison, Theodore Whitmore and the late Stephen Malcolm and Peter Cargill. Unlike Simoes, I think coach Bora will have a tough time filling his players' roster.

big question

With the vast majority of our better players now based overseas and are unlikely to be available outside of the limited periods sanctioned by FIFA, the big question in my mind is who will Bora spend his time coaching when these players are meeting their professional commitments overseas.

Based on what I have read about Bora, I understand he has a sharp eye for spotting good talent and I really hoping he does. I am also hoping that he will be able to find enough good players outside the national programme because I would not bank on those who represented us in the recent Shell Caribbean Cup.

I am also hoping that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) will build the right support staff around coach Bora. If he is to benefit from our best local expertise, then individuals such as Jeffrey Maxwell and Paul 'Tegat' Davis, based on their record as coaches and their experience and knowledge of the game, should be in for consideration.

Finally, I would like to bid outgoing coach Carl Brown a gracious farewell. While I have not always agreed with him, no one can deny that he has been a real soldier for national football, having served as a regular player, captain and finally as coach. Farewell Carl and I wish you well.