‘It gives a dirty look’

WESTERN BUREAU:

FOOTBALL STAKEHOLDERS in western Jamaica are not pleased with the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) handling of senior men’s football team head coach, Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, whose future is to be determined by the JFF’s executive committee.

It was reported that the technical committee, led by its chairman, Rudolph Speid, convened a meeting on Wednesday, November 17, where they tabled a recommendation to the JFF executive – following a vote of 5-2 – to relieve Whitmore of his national duties.

The 1998 World Cup star midfielder’s Reggae Boyz have only managed to amass seven points from eight games in the Octagonal round of the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers and not fancied at this time to earn a spot at the Qatar 2022 World Cup Finals.

Three teams are guaranteed automatic qualification, while the fourth-placed finisher gets a chance via a confederation play-off.

With more than half the qualifying schedule complete, Jamaica’s seven points are at least doubled by the top four, with the United States leading with 16 points, followed by Canada, 15, and Mexico and Panama on 14.

Dr Dean Weatherly, who backs Whitmore to stay in his role, is disappointed in how the JFF has allowed the issue to play out in the public space.

“I think it should have been more private. The press should not have been notified before the meeting was held. It gives off a dirty look and a case of the tail wagging the dog,” said Dr Weatherly, who believes Whitmore will weather the storm.

“In coaching you are always in the firing line so I don’t think it’s one Tappa can’t handle. Primarily, since he has been in the post there have been calls for him to go. He had been doing well with the limited resources that he had. This time around we saw where a lot of resources have been offered to him but with little time,” he added.

Dr Weatherly, himself a long-time coach at the Premier League and schoolboy level, continued: “I am in support of Tappa staying the course. He has a good win record. It’s not too late, if we do what we are supposed to and with the help of others we can do it.”

DECISION NEEDED

Outspoken president of Montego Bay United FC, Orville Powell, believes only JFF president, Michael Ricketts, can quiet the storm, and is calling for him to make a decision on the position of Whitmore.

“I blame the JFF for how they are handling the situation. I would think that anything would be dealt with better in private,” Powell said.

“Also, if there is a recommendation, the president needs to make a decision and say it. Irrespective of what the board will do the wishes of the president (matter). If the president doesn’t wish for Tappa to leave (to be fired) he will not go. Nobody wants to take responsibility and that is one of the biggest problems with the JFF,” he added.

Ricketts is believed to have fanned the gust of the storm, after making it public knowledge that there was going to be a meeting of the technical committee of the JFF to discuss Whitmore’s future following the USA game. He stated that he was willing to do anything it takes to rescue Jamaica’s chances of making it to the 2022 World Cup.

Westmoreland FA president, Everton Tomlinson, said he wished not to comment on the matter when asked his opinion on Whitmore’s position and the way the matter is being handled by the JFF.

When contacted about his opinion, outspoken St Ann FA president, Danny Beckford, declined to share his thoughts. He, however, stated that he does not want to jump the gun on his colleagues and that he is waiting on the executive board meeting for them (JFF) to make a decision.