By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
IN 1997, in the lead up to World Cup '98, Jamaica was drawn to play Brazil in the first round of the Gold Cup and I predicted doom and gloom. I said then that it would be ugly as we were light years from the Brazilians. I was made to eat my words.
That is the just rewards for columnists and sports writers who think they know everything and can see into the future.
Six years later, I still get reminders that not only did we not go belly up and allow in a flood of goals but we also matched the world masters at their own game for long periods. We played them twice then, drawing 0-0 in Miami and then lost 1-0 in a subsequent round in Los Angeles.
My predictions then did not go over too well and there were numerous calls questioning my loyalty and suggestions were made as to what I could do with my opinions. I recall one call I got and all I could say to the caller was that I was not that agile and could not get my head to do that. Anyway.
VIVID MEMORIES
The confirmation of the October 12 game against the five time World Champions at Leicester's Walker Stadium in England brought back vivid memories of those halcyon days when Jamaica's football was on the up and the future looked decidedly rosy.
I said all that to say this: if I were to stick my neck out again, I would say the same thing now that I said then. It won't be pretty. To be honest I can't see a Jamaican defence that is going to keep a team that includes Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Rivaldo under wraps for 90 minutes.
Yes, a lot has changed since then and the Jamaican team is far stronger and deeper than it was then and no longer can we sneak up on people and get results, we are a known commodity these days.
We are still not in the class of Brazil nor even their Under-23 team. Call me what you will but that is the simple truth... at least, as I see it.
There is no doubt this will be Jamaica's toughest game ever, the three games in France '98 not withstanding or the numerous tough qualifying games we had to play in hostile Central American stadiums. None of those opponents will match up to this Brazil squad. Not even close.
To add to the mix, we will be without two of our best strikers, Onandi Lowe and Barry Hayles, both out with injuries, and midfielders Theodore Whitmore and Micah Hyde, both doubtful as they are nursing injuries. Not that their presence would mean we would have a chance of beating Brazil.
All things said and done it is a great opportunity for the Jamaican team and their fans, especially those who live in London. National technical director Carl Brown could not have asked for a better preparation game for the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in February.
We can be certain that we won't face any team that comes anywhere near the strength of the Brazil team. Hopefully Brown's job security will not hinge on the result of this game and he won't suffer the same fate as his predecessor Clovis deOliviera who was fired in the middle of the night after a loss in Central America.
