Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Wendell Downswell - file
Amidst widespread criticism and assurances by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) of a technical staff overhaul, technical director Wendell Downswell has stated an interest in remaining with the National programme, even if in a different capacity.
"It all depends on the role they would like me to play, I would be supportive because personally I would very much like to see Jamaica make it to the 2010 World Cup." Downswell said.
"The next World Cup is our ultimate objective and once we can get any level of assistance in terms of us reaching there, I think it will definitely be a step in the right direction." he added.
The coach has come under fire on the heels of a string of poor international results, among them a disastrous tour of the United Kingdom which saw the National team hammered 4-1 by Ghana and 6-0 by England and most recently a 6-0 trouncing of the National Under-21 team at the hands of host nation Colombia at the Central American and Caribbean games (CAC).
Downswell who returned from Colombia yesterday along with several players and goalkeeper coach Paul Campbell, believes that the most recent result was due to a lack of experience and international exposure.
"Regions like Central America and others are superior to us at this point in terms of their programmes and so far we haven't been able to step up to the plate." Downswell said.
The team did, however, manage to qualify for next year's Pan American Games in Brazil as the top Caribbean country.
Doing fairly well
"We have been doing fairly well in the Caribbean and the CONCACAF regions, the problem is that when we step out of it, we have to step up a notch and that will come with experience," he added.
"We have had a couple of bad results but we have done poorly against teams outside of our region, in order to improve we will have to compete more regularly on the international stage."
President of the JFF Crenston Boxhill who has been searching for a technical director, had stated that he would be sitting down to discuss plans for the future with Downswell as soon as he returned to the Island.
Among the big names that have already been shortlisted for the job is Jamaican-born and and former English international John Barnes.
