Brown
Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
FORMER BRAZILIAN coach and Technical Director of Jamaica's football, Sebastiao Lazaroni, has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that the Reggae Boyz qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany.
After months of speculation about the Brazilian and the position of Technical Director now being held by Carl Brown, a press release from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) yesterday confirmed the direction that the JFF has taken.
Brown will remain Technical Director, and Lazaroni will join the programme as Head Coach of the senior national team.
However, according to terms stated in the JFF release Lazaroni, who will hold the inferior position, will take over the superior function with "...Brown agreeing to be a member of Lazaroni's support staff".
The release said: "After discussions with the parties concerned, including president of the Jamaica Football Federation, Crenston Boxhill, the JFF Technical Committee and the Technical Director, Carl Brown, an agreement has been reached that it is in the best interest of Jamaica's Red Stripe Journey to Germany 2006 Campaign.
"Discussions between president Crenston Boxhill and Technical Director Carl Brown and Boxhill/Lazaroni have resulted in a collaborative approach, with Brown agreeing to be a member of Lazaroni's support staff which would prepare the Reggae Boyz."
According to Boxhill though, Brown is in charge of the overall programme while Lazaroni will take charge of the senior Reggae Boyz.
Boxhill said he has been in dialogue with Lazaroni for some time and "it was not difficult" to secure the services of the Brazilian.
"In fact, we had been in discussions before I left here," said Boxhill, who left the island last week for South America.
"We had engaged Lazaroni months ago but he was working at that time. It was out of discussions with the Technical Director (Brown) that we spoke to him," he said.
"It was Carl who sat down with me and out of those discussions came forth the name Lazaroni. When we contacted him then he was not available at the time but he said then that 'if and when' his contract was up he 'is available if we still need him'.".
Although stating that Lazaroni has been hired primarily to get the Reggae Boyz to Germany, Boxhill was quick to point out that "Jamaica's football programme does not begin and end with the Road to Germany".
"There are the youth programmes too. However, the priority is really the Road to Germany campaign at this time."
Boxhill did not say when Lazaroni will arrive here, but he is expected to arrive with a team comprising of an assistant coach, a physical trainer and a goalkeeper coach, a package that Boxhill said could cost between $US40,000-$45,000 per month.
The release also said "the JFF is now in discussions with members of the private sector with a view of finding funds which would pay Lazaroni and his staff."
When The Gleaner attempted to contact Brown via his cellular phone last evening, it ran relentlessly before his voice mail message sounded: "The Lord is good, his mercies endureth for ever. Have a blessed day and God's blessing be with you."
