Gordon Williams, Contributor 
Jamaica's Lovel Palmer (24) controls the ball in front of Switzerland's Gokham Inler (27) during the first half of an exhibition soccer game at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Monday, March 22. Switzerland defeated Jamaica 2-0.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida:
Bora Milutinovic was in an upbeat mood following Jamaica's 2-0 defeat to Switzerland here on Thursday night, pleased with the Reggae Boyz's effort, while insisting they will benefit from playing against quality teams like the 'Nati'.
"Normally I am not a happy man if we lose a game," said the Serb, who suffered his first loss as Jamaica football's technical director at Lockhart Stadium. "But our players made great effort. It is important for the future of the Jamaicans ... We need to build this team."
Milutinovic said lack of concentration strapped the Boyz' with a sloppy first half, during which Jamaica were dominated and plunged into an early deficit, giving up goals to Marco Streller (seventh minute) and Gokhan Inler (12th).
They could have conceded several more if not for the brilliant efforts of goalkeeper Richard McCallum, the team's MVP on the night. Yet Milutinovic said he did not feel let down by a Jamaica squad featuring only local-based players pressed into service against Switzerland, the 17th ranked team in the world, packed with professionals from Europe's best leagues.
Never disappointed
"Never, never, never," he said. "I'm never disappointed."
For the Jamaicans who accounted for the majority of the 3,200-plus fans who braved overcast conditions and blustery winds, the first half was hard to digest. The Reggae Boyz easily gave away ball possession, which led to a steady stream of attacks and missed scoring chances by Switzerland.
However, Milutinovic made several substitutions at half time and the Swiss still maintained control of the match and rarely seemed likely to concede a score, the contest became a bit more balanced.
"After (the first) 45 minutes the picture changed," Milutinovic said in praising his team's response. 'Positive.'
The technical director is convinced that the Swiss team's lesson is exactly what the Boyz needed to boost their competitive level in preparation for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, as members of the current Jamaica squad are not normally exposed to top flight teams.
"It is important for us if we can play against a team like Switzerland," Milutinovic said. "It will be perfect for (our) preparation to be in the real soccer, real football world. All of this (Swiss) team's players play in Europe. (They) have ... so many good players.
They play in
"They (are) physically better than us," he would also say. "They are athletic, real good. But this is the difference to being good, the competition, the league (they play in)."
With Jamaica's next assignment at 'The Office' on March 26 against Panama, the new technical director's first at home, Milutinovic wants to temper over eager local fans looking for immediate brilliant results.
"No expectations," was Milutinovic's response to a question focusing on what would happen on Monday. "We need to play. (That) is important, and I hope the people from Jamaica they grow to understand what is our goal. Our goal is clear, to go to the World Cup. To do this, we need to work hard, to have patience, to support our players."
Milutinovic, despite a recent Jamaica Football Federation press release indicating that England-based Reggae Boyz Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardner and Luton Shelton would be available against Panama, only confirmed the Bolton Wanderers player in the line-up.
Shelton, who recently joined Sheffield United, is also a possibility, Milutinovic said, but his presence could only be viewed as a welcome bonus.
"Only one," he said when asked Thursday night about the duo's arrival.
"Gardner, nobody else ... If Shelton comes, it will be good. But I don't know if he's going to come. If Shelton comes, good, no problem."
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
