Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
JAMAICAN MIDFIELDER Jason Euell made a scathing attack on the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in his published diary on a website called Icons - the official site of the world's leading footballers.
Dated Friday, June 16, the English-based player posted in his Jason Euell Diary that Jamaica needed to get their act together.
The Charlton Athletic player outlined a series of problems during Jamaica's trip to England from wrong training venue, match fees disputes, equipment shortages and the Marlon King saga.
Said Euell: "Now that the dust has settled on the debacle that was Jamaica's recent tour to England, I feel the time is right to voice my opinion on what went on behind the scenes, much of which contributed to our two heavy losses".
Jamaica turned in two embarrassing performances - losing 4-1 and 6-0 to Ghana and England respectively.
TRAINING SESSIONS
"But when your preparation and training sessions are not conducive to international football, you are always going to struggle," said Euell.
He took a swipe at the Wendell Downswell-led coaching staff saying that there was not enough attention to detail in the training sessions.
"Not enough background was done on our opponents and given that we had 10 days together as a unit, there was no excuse for not being fully prepared," he wrote.
Prior to the Ghana game, Euell stated they turned up at Watford's Vicarage Road Stadium "when we should have been at the Watford's training ground at London Colney. It was nearly nine o'clock at night and, due to the lack of light, we had to turn right round and return to our team hotel," he said.
MATCH FEES
The following day, Euell said team captain Donovan Ricketts called a meeting to negotiate match fees.
"The situation should have been sorted out long before the Ghana fixture, but here we were, some three days before the game (England), and the bickering had just begun," he said.
"It got to the point where the team was on the verge of pulling out of both fixtures altogether and it took a day-and-a-half for an agreement to be thrashed out," wrote Euell.
Euell, who made his debut for Jamaica against the United States last year, said poor time management by the JFF led to the team arriving 30 minutes before kick-off against Ghana.
"The disorganisation amazed me and while players were ready and waiting on the coach, we were held up by the backroom staff," he said.
"Not surprisingly, we had a poor first half and it wasn't until we regrouped at half time that we sorted ourselves out and for the opening 25 minutes after the break, the Ghanaians couldn't get out of their half."
The saying that you must not "wash your dirty linen in public" had no bearing on Euell. He revealed that there was only three towels available in the changing room.
"Three towels between a whole squad meant that we had to share - you wouldn't even get this kind of organisation with a Sunday league team, but it is another example of the lack of professionalism that existed on the tour," said Euell.
OPINIONS
Euell then concluded that his voicing of his opinions was only made to improve the JFF and make Jamaica successful on the international stage.
"I hope this diary entry isn't taken the wrong way by the officials within the Jamaican FA because, like them, I just want to see the country successful on the international stage and make people back home proud of the team.
"Nothing makes me prouder than pulling on the Jamaica shirt and hopefully, with my experience, I can play a major part in the development of this squad," said Euell.
