By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterJUST DAYS ahead of their crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifying game against the United States, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President, Crenston Boxhill is confident that his charges will be in the final round.
"Personally I'm very optimistic, I am very confident that we'll come from the United States with the three points that we need. Of course there are other scenarios that can get us through without three points but we are not looking at that," he said.
Based on the JFF boss' observation, the players themselves are aware of the significance of the game and are doing all that they can to make sure that they come out on top.
"Having regular discussions with the technical staff and probably most importantly the players - because I've been in contact with most of our overseas based players - and the mood that they are in tells you that you don't have to work overtime to motivate them or tell them how important this game is," Boxhill told The Sunday Gleaner.
Boxhill went on to point out that even though Jamaica have never beaten the US before, he has seen them create history before and thinks they can do it again.
CREATED HISTORY
"We had never won a game in Central America before either. We've already created history and so this wouldn't be the first. We have found ourselves in positions like this before in the current campaign and I have no doubts that based on the mood of the team, the kind of confidence level that they are displaying and the quality of the team that we will come out victorious," said Boxhill.
Jamaica were outplayed in a draw against Haiti before producing beautiful football to demolish them in the return game. Jamaica had their backs to the wall again when they lost to Panama and had to go to Central America to face El Salvador in need of three points. After performing that feat they now find themselves with their backs to the wall yet again in must win situation against the US in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday.
Every game has been a litmus test for the Boxhill-led administration that recently took over from Captain Horace Burrell, who presided over Jamaica's first ever World Cup Finals appearance, in 1998. Boxhill, however, is of the opinion that his administration has done more than enough to earn the trust of the people whether or not the Reggae Boyz make it to Germany.
"There will always be people who are for and people who are against. I would not go as far as to say that I don't listen to criticism because positive criticisms are very important for anyone leading an administration such as this. But by and large most people figure that the administration, considering where we were coming from, has done reasonably well in terms of putting the World Cup programme in place, in terms of getting a quality team in place, in terms of getting the necessary preparation for coming into a competition such as this," he said.
Adding that his administration's legacy is one of development and that the senior World Cup programme is only a part of the broader picture.
"Like any other Jamaican here or abroad, we will do any and everything possible to try and qualify this team and that is why we have spent so much money and even putting other important things on the back burner, so to speak, to get this programme back on track.
YOUTH PROGRAMME
"Having said that we realise that the Wolrd Cup programme is not the end-all of Jamaica's football. We think that a well-organised youth programme can allow us to be consistent at international tournaments, including the World Cup, and that is the legacy that this administration wants to leave," said Boxhill.
In attempts to ensure that Jamaica can achieve that Boxhill says his administration is well on its way.
"We were able to keep the under-20 team together for at least one year. When we played in Germany in January most of the players that are representing Jamaica now are in that tournament. As a matter of fact when we beat Haiti 4-0 here, nine members of the starting team were part of the squad that went to Germany. That augers well for us because that was one of the things that has been bothering us over the years. We play in a tournament and by the time that another tournament comes up it's a different eleven."
