LAST HURRAH
Honduras win crucial for short-term morale boost, long-term outlook
Published:Wednesday | March 30, 2022 | 12:10 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
AS JAMAICA finish yet another unsuccessful World Cup qualifying cycle, national senior men’s interim head coach Paul Hall says victory against Honduras will not only provide a road map towards the future, but also raise the morale.
The Reggae Boyz will close the final round against Los Catrachos tonight at 8:05 at the National Stadium, hoping to capitalise on their final opportunity for a home win in this cycle.
After being dispatched 4-0 by Canada on Sunday, Jamaica face Honduras, the only team that they have registered a win against this campaign, looking for a similar result.
It has been a campaign of few highlights and many pitfalls, which have included their poor home record, having only accumulated three points from six matches, performances that have been lacking and the departure of Theodore Whitmore as head coach last December.
In a cycle that has not lived up to its expectations, Hall said that a win will help to raise the overall morale of the team but says it is the start of their rebuilding process in the hunt to qualify for 2026.
“A win would probably help with the morale. But that is not the total story. We will go out to win that game tomorrow. It is important that we try and get three points tomorrow just to prove that we are good enough,” Hall said during yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
“But it is part of the story and it is not the destination but part of the journey.”
MORALE-BOOSTING EXERCISE
A part of that morale-boosting exercise was a trip to captain Andre Blake’s restaurant in Clarendon on Monday, which Hall said was crucial to building and maintaining the continuity he wants.
“Ever since I’ve got here, one of the things that I feel the Jamaican football team is [missing is] we haven’t been able to connect with the public and we haven’t been able to connect with each other very well. We went there for togetherness, to be connected,” Hall said.
“It’s those types of things I feel we really need to reintroduce. Morale comes in different shapes and forms and being in the restaurant as a team, as a connected group is really important for morale and togetherness.”
While he wants to ensure that aspect of the team is targeted, Jamaica will want to ensure that they do not finish with the worst defensive record in the campaign.
The Reggae Boyz have conceded 21 goals in 13 games, with only Honduras conceding more with 24. Eight of those 21 goals have been allowed at the National Stadium.
Hall said that particularly on set pieces, players have to take ownership of their defensive responsibilities.
“It is about individual responsibilities. You can almost point the finger at every single goal where somebody is not taking responsibility in that area and it is there for all to see. Technically, we have to be strong, we have to be resolute and we have to understand where the danger is coming from,” Hall said.
Jamaica have never lost to Honduras at home.