Whitmore keeps faith with young Boyz
BY LIVINGSTON SCOTT Observer staff reporter DESPITE mounting scepticism about the local-based squad, national senior football coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore believes he is on track as the Reggae Boyz continued preparations for next month's friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago yesterday.
The former national player came on as a substitute and played more than 70 minutes with the younger players of the national senior squad against Manchester High School in a practice game at the UWI Bowl yesterday.
However, before he entered the game it was very difficult to separate the teams based on their performance at that stage, which raised serious questions about the quality of the side.
But Whitmore insisted that the standard of his team is not an issue as most of the players used in the game were young players he was still looking at.
"There are three young players that you saw today that we'll be taking to Trinidad, so this was like a trial for the rest of players.
"It was just a little practise, scrimmage-like game... but if you notice, most of the seniors players that we'll be taking with us to Trinidad... were sitting down, so it was just for the younger players to really get a taste of things," he explained.
Despite looking a cut above everyone else, Whitmore said his presence on the field was mainly to give advice and motive his players.
"It was just to encourage and... really bring them up to date with what is happening on the field, because some of them have lost the fun out of the game and that's the most important thing," he stated.
Meanwhile, only one of the three players who were suspended recently for turning up late for training is now eligible for selection.
"The only player who is up for selection is Keammar Daley, but we still haven't heard anything from (Xavian) Virgo and we haven't heard anything from (Desmond) Breakenridge," Whitmore said.
The team has already played matches against St Thomas and St James Allstars and will continue their preparations against Trelawny this Sunday and Portland Allstars the following Saturday.
Whitmore says he is very pleased with how preparations are coming on presently and will be trimming his squad very soon.
"We will be taking 18 players to Trinidad and that will include about five overseas-based players," he said.
Manchester High school football manager Dr Carl Bruce (left), former Manchester High and national player Jason Johnson (right) and national senior coach Theodore Whitmore (2nd right) listen as assistant coach Bradley Stewart makes a point after a practise match between a local Reggae Boyz outfit and Manchester High at UWI Bowl yesterday. The Boyz won the game 5-1. (Photo: Garfield Robinson).
