Hallgrimsson hopes for cooperation from Blake

Jamaican football’s new era under Heimir Hallgrimsson will begin with captain Andre Blake after all, with the hope that a new dynamic can be built and maintained.

Hallgrimsson announced that the 31-year-old goalkeeper has been included in the Reggae Boyz squad to face Argentina on September 27 during yesterday’s press conference to introduce him as the new head coach. Hallgrimsson’s four-year deal will see the 55-year-old Icelander have a chance to make an immediate impact from the sidelines against the two-time world champions.

Blake was initially left out of the extended 29-man squad that was released on Monday, with posts circulating on social media suggesting that he was paying the price for comments regarding the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). On September 9, Blake responded to a comment regarding the possible candidates for the next permanent head coach saying that “a new head coach with the same federation will probably equal the same results”.

Making his first directive as head coach, Hallgrimsson said that he discussed the matter with Blake, resulting in his inclusion declaring the matter closed.

“In the press, there has been a lot written about Andre Blake, the captain of the team. For me, it is in the best-case scenario a little bit embarrassing. But I can tell you here we had a talk and the case is settled. He is in the squad,” Hallgrimsson said.

PREPARED TO SIT ON SIDELINES

In an interview with The Gleaner on Wednesday, Blake said he was prepared to sit on the sidelines for the foreseeable future, resolute in his stance despite reinforcing his commitment to the squad.

“If they decide not to select me again, I am fine. They will not use the non-selection to break me,” Blake declared. “They cannot manage. It is at that point now where it is bigger than them. If I did not care, I would just let it slide but I care too much to see us making a mockery of ourselves. People are creeping up on us, some are passing us and we are going backwards.”

It is yet another chapter in a long-standing history of strife between the players and the federation. The most recent incident in June saw the players demand and receive in principle the resignation of general secretary Dalton Wint in June. However, there is still no official confirmation of his departure. JFF president Michael Ricketts, in an interview with radiojamaicanewsonline on Wednesday, said that Blake’s recent comments were unwarranted because of the improved communication with the players.

But with Blake’s return assured, Hallgrimsson was optimistic about building a strong foundation with Blake who has worn the captain’s armband for more than five years as well as adamant that a new page, free from the conflicts of the past, will begin.

“Hopefully, with me as the coach, we can start with this cooperation with the captain of the team. I am hoping that we can have a good relationship,” Hallgrimsson declared. “I know all projects have problems in the past and I hope that all the things that have happened in the past, is in the past. I hope that when we start, we don’t take problems from the past to the present.”

The players are expected to assemble on September 24 to prepare for the Argentina game.