Jamaica must embrace World Cup dream

Guest Editorial: Winfried Schäfer

I am very honoured to be The Gleaner's guest editor for this issue, especially since the topic is World Cup 2014 in Brazil, and soccer, the most popular sport in the world.

The Gleaner reporters and I will do our best to give you an understanding of this fantastic event. We want to inform you about everything about World Cup 2014.

Since I'm trainer of the Reggae Boyz in beautiful Jamaica, it is a pleasure to serve soccer lovers here.

How important this top-class competition can be for a nation, I could observe while I was the trainer of Cameroon's team during the World Cup in Korea and Japan in 2002.

As a German, I will always remember when the German team won the World Cup for the first time - after the awful World War II - in 1954.

By the pride of victory then, our country gained new self-confidence to rebuild democratically and peacefully.

In Germany, we say soccer is one of the greatest pastimes ever, and it certainly means more to me personally.

I'm happy for Brazil that they are hosts of the World Cup again. And yes, if Germany will not be able to win, I clearly would not begrudge the title to Brazil.

Brazilian footballers have revolutionised soccer from a harsh, combat-like sport to a creative and lively one. Clearly, the five World Cup titles speak for themselves

Sadly, the defeat against neighbouring Uruguay in 1950 has remained unforgotten as many people committed suicide afterwards, and the goalkeeper, Moacyr Barbosa, became a persona non grata in his country because of the error he made. This cost the Brazilian team the World Cup title.

In 1958, at the age of eight, I watched the outstanding Brazilian team performing at the World Cup in Sweden. Pele turned out to be history's greatest soccer player, and I've been a big fan of Brazilian football ever since.

Nevertheless, observing political corruption on the one hand, and the state use of tear gas against protesters on the other, made me very sad.

The World Cup is supposed to represent the unification of people worldwide.

Let's all hope for a peaceful World Cup 2014.

For me, the World Cups in Germany in 2006 and South Africa 2010 have been the greatest.

South Africa surprised those who didn't know better since extreme violence was expected. Instead, the African continent was filled with pride and joy.

The African teams and fans definitely deserved this.

This year, the most outstanding teams like Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain, and France, will display top-class football. So, in total, this World Cup should be superb.

Every soccer player should try to achieve the goal to participate in these tournaments of excellence.

Naturally, it is disappointing that I just joined the team of the Reggae Boyz after they had already played six qualifying games. Hence, I would have loved to have given them the chance to take part in the World Cup.

We in Jamaica - the Government, clubs, players and private sponsors - must try to reach that goal in the future.

With success, sponsors become interested. But we must understand that we need sponsors to gain success first.

Everyone has to dedicate himself or herself to the success of the Reggae Boyz. Nothing is impossible, although the road is going to be hard and rocky.

I have a dream.

Winfried Schafer