Portia sets sights on South Africa 2010
BY LEVAUGHN FLYNN, Staff Reporter
THE BRITISH JOURNALIST who reported yesterday that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is scouting several high-calibre coaches is standing by his story despite denials by local football officials.
Jason Burt, who works for The Independent newspaper in England, wrote that the JFF has plans to approach former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Brazil's Carlos Alberto Parreira, Portugal's Luiz Felipe Scolari, Germany's Jurgen Klinsmann and former England manager Glenn Hoddle to run the national senior team.
Burt also wrote that the JFF would be willing to pay up to £3 million (JA$363m) annually to the successful coach with the help of the Government.
Speaking to STAR Sports yesterday via telephone from England, Burt insisted that the content of his story was accurate.
"I trust my source 100 per cent and would not write the story if I wasn't confident in my source," Burt said.
"The person who told me is involved in the whole process at a very important level and I wouldn't run the story if I wasn't sure."
JFF president Crenston Boxhill yesterday said there is interest in one of the five names mentioned but would not say which one.
"We haven't had any discus-sions with any of the coaches mentioned (but) there is some interest in one of the coaches." he said.
Burt said the most intriguing aspect of this story was the proposed salary of £3 million a year.
"When I first heard it I didn't believe it because that's a lot of money, and I found the figure very interesting." he said.
According to Burt, the Govern-ment, with the backing of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, would help fund the coach's salary.
ACQUIRING COACH
The Prime Minister, who is in St. Kitts attending the CARICOM Heads of Government Con-ference, yesterday confirmed that she has spoken with Boxhill about acquiring a reputable coach to ensure the Reggae Boyz qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"The Government wishes to assist in getting a good football coach so that in two years we can begin to see a difference, and we can qualify for South Africa in 2010." she said.
Mrs. Simpson Miller is also planning to travel to Brazil next week to meet with that country's president, Luiz Inicio Lula da Silva.
She said one of the topics for discussion would be Brazil's coaches and she mentioned the name Luiz Felipe Scolari, who this year took Portugal to the World Cup semi-final for the first time in 40 years.
"I am interested in Scolari, but am not sure if he is available. Many countries would love to have him and he may even be staying with Portugal. But it would be great if we could get him," the Prime Minister noted.
Meanwhile, Burt remains confident that his story is accurate despite Boxhill saying, "I don't know anything about what is in The Independent. I am hearing that for the first time."
"(If he says that) he is not telling the truth or doesn't know what's happening," Burt quipped.
"This may very well be a wish list, and I'd be surprised if any of the coaches end up in the job, but that is the proposal," he added.
-Staff reporter Ross Sheil contributed to this story.
