Milutinovic

Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

New technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic yesterday met with several local coaches to share his ideas and experience at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) head office.

Milutinovic, who was officially introduced as technical director on Thursday by the JFF, said the meeting went well.

"I speak with the coaches about my experience and life and the feedback was superb," he told The Gleaner moments after the meeting. Milutinovic painted his coaching picture for the premier league coaches of the 4-4-2 system and invited them to watch his training sessions and visa versa.

When asked if he was introducing one playing system for all local coaches so the players would come to the national set up already prepared?

No, not one system. Everybody knows what is better for them,," he replied.

Apart from the familiarisation meeting, Milutinovic has organised six games in January to have a look at local players across the island.

On Tuesday, January 9, two Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Under-23 teams and two senior teams will play under the watchful eyes of the new technical director.

Between the 16th and 23rd, he will take a look at players from the Eastern, Western and South Central Confederations.

On January 31, a Confederation Selection will tackle a National Select XI by then Milutinovic will have a better idea of the top players locally.

All the coaches that The Gleaner spoke to were impressed with Milutinovic's philosophy and thought the football programme is in capable hands, especially since he thought it fit to meet with the local coaches early.

In attendance were Geoffrey Maxwell, Wendell Downswell, Wayne Fairclough, Barrington Gaynor, Calvin Fitzgerald, Christopher Bender, Lenworth Hyde, Paul Young and Donovan Hayles.

Top local coach, Geoffrey Maxwell, thought the new coach got off to a good start. "Overall he has approached it in the correct way by getting to know the various club coaches. This will give the local coaches a chance to give some suggestions on what the Jamaican psyche is about".

Maxwell, who recently parted company with Seba United said the meeting was also interesting and went well.

Said Maxwell: "I thought the session went over very humorous and he is an intelligent person and he knows what he wants. He gave us brief ideas of how he plans to go about it,.

Glendon "Admiral" Bailey, coach of Arnett Gardens, endorsed the JFF's choice of technical director and was impressed by his thoughts, some of which he had started implementing at Arnett Gardens recently.

"Sometimes when we tell the players they don't believe, so it is good that they hear from an established coach with experience," he pointed out.

He continued: "Every coach has their own philosophy and the transition would be easier if the premier league coaches try and get the players on a more organised basis, so when they come to that level, they just make the transition."

Barrington Gaynor, coach of premier league champions Waterhouse, noted that "Bora" stressed the importance of proper organisation.

"He emphasised organisation... He explained what we should do whenever certain situations arise," Gaynor said.