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Cargill
Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
PETER CARGILL is a man under the gun. The National Under-23 team's failure to qualify for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece this summer has placed the coach in that territory.
If he survives, he'll accept it. If not, he'll move on knowing fully well he doesn't have a choice.
Confirming his tenuous situation, Cargill said: "We're always in a job where when the team loses it's the coach's fault and when the team wins the players are good.
"That's the type of job we're in, sadly and unfortunately. But I know that and as long as the JFF does not give me official notice then I'll continue to do my work."
That includes preparing Jamaica's teams for international competitions like the Under-23s of which much was anticipated in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying finals in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Participation at junior World Cup finals - Under-17 and Under-20 - ahead of this same field strengthened belief for similar success.
Only distress came with 3-0, 4-0 and 2-1 losses to Costa Rica, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago respectively.
"We did the best that we could do. The players performed especially well in the second game against Mexico, even though we went down to 10 men, we showed a lot of determination."
Sweeper Shavar Thomas, a senior team member and captain, was red carded after only five minutes and Mexico scored from the resulting spot kick off what the coaching staff called a "questionable" penalty. Two other goals came swiftly, and the fourth inside the final minute. But there were no excuses for the other games.
"In the first and third games we didn't do ourselves justice ... in how we performed," revealed Cargill.
SHOWED US UP
"I think the biggest problem is our experience competing at that level. That's the highest level in CONCACAF, our experience playing and competing at that level showed us up," he said.
The team played practise games leading into the final but Cargill said the opponents, but for one, never provided quality competition.
"I think in our preparation we did the best we could ... the federation did well in getting us to the eastern Caribbean and that training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida also did us good.
"Overall, we played 23 games or so since the CAC Games but the only time we competed against any opponent of that (high) calibre was when we played against Canada in Fort Lauderdale. Still, it was a good experience for our group."
On that list numbered five representatives from previous forages by Jamaica's juveniles to the World Cup, attracting questions re selection.
"Right throughout the programme, from we played the first game against Cuba, people had been questioning our selections," Cargill said.
"We're working with the teams and we think we carried the best team to help Jamaica. Questions will always be there as to why we didn't carry this one and why we carried this one but we're the coaches, that's why we're the coaches, we're the ones who have been working with them."
And what about development?
"The people who Shavar (Thomas) played against in the World Cup in Argentina, a lot of them are playing in the top leagues around the world, in Italy, Germany, France," Cargill pointed out. "It's not about how many World Cups you've played in, it's what you're doing now. Look at the progress that they have made and where we are. That's football."
Mexico and Costa Rica both qualified, and the United States with five World Cup players were thumped 4-0 by Mexico, facts not lost on Cargill but should that save his neck?
"Look ... they have facilities, culture and history. How long has the World Cup been going on and how many times have we qualified?" he asked rhetorically.
"Our players are amateurs and pros are expected to carry their A game every time. That's what we need to learn."
A veteran midfielder on the Reggae Boyz team that have played in the only World Cup finals for this country, he added: "In 98 we played almost 50 games a year and 80-90 per cent of the team lived in Jamaica. But now 80-90 per cent lives abroad. So we've to choose our path carefully. We need to take a stock and look at where we are, what we're doing. Then we'd be in a better position to make criticisms," he said.
NOT THE PUBLIC'S CHOICE
The average man on the street doesn't see it that way. Even then, whether Cargill stays or goes it is not the public's choice and the people making the call are in no rush.
"We haven't got all the reports as yet," chairman of the JFF's technical committee, Andrew Price, told The Gleaner of the influential statements to be furnished for the case. "As soon as we get them in we are going to meet. I want us to meet and do things formally and properly."
Price's committee can almost recommend action. Ultimately though, it is the federation's new president, Crenston Boxhill who, by himself or with his officers, will make the judgement.
For now, "we haven't made a decision," admitted Boxhill when queried at the Friday's deadline announced earlier in the week.
"As soon as we reach a position we'll make a comment on that. Now we have no comment to make. The situation remains the same."
Cargill remains under the gun.
