Andrew Clunis, Freelance Writer
Reggae Boyz do a victory jig
T HE WORLD has known perhaps no greater inspirational force than music. For Jamaica's footballers, Reggae Boyz, it has great therapeutic value. It is the 12th player on the football team and its psychological emissary.
Football fans, artistes and other members of the Jamaican community form a vehicular and pedestrian line to the National Stadium whenever the Reggae Boyz are playing, a regular sight for the 46 games they have played there since 1994. Due largely to the team's success, a football game is now a regular party in the National Stadium.
The open sale of ganja, the clouds of smoke which result from its use, the many laymen who give 'expert' advice and swaddle the half line in the bleachers, as well as the more comfortable fanatics and 'waggonists' in the grand stand, constitute the reggae vibes - petrol for the Reggae Boyz's Orient Express.
Horace Reid, general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), told Showtime that reggae music is very dear to the players' hearts.
"It has become a fixed part of our programme and the players look forward to it. It has helped team motivation tremendously. One can't picture our team in the National Stadium without a sound system. Even in the dressing room when the players are getting prepared and they hear the music, it boosts their morale," he said.
There is symbiosis between football and music. The name Reggae Boyz has been registered by the JFF in Jamaica, North America, Europe and the organisation is in the process of registrating the name in South America. The Federation also has the right to the domain name on the Internet.
Reid said artistes have constantly been encouraging the players.
"On the eve of almost every game, we have entertainers who go by the players' residence and spend the evening performing and lyming. Tanto Metro and Beenie Man are two of the more frequent ones," he said.
On match days the JFF helps to guide the choice of music played.
"From time to time we suggest to the selectors the direction to go. We tell them the kinds of music to play when the team is about to come through the tunnel and so on," Reid said.
Fanfare
Peter Cargill, assistant coach to the national senior team and former Reggae Boyz player, said the fanfare which takes place before and during games has been helpful to the team.
"I guess it's the kind of music they select. They manage to get the crowd going and when they are in full swing you get a true home feeling. With the people cheering you on, you are pushed to that level where you must excel.
"We don't really use music in training, but there are some co-ordination exercises which require the arms and legs to move rhythmically. Sometimes, these trainings take on a natural reggae beat and the players from time to time start DJing or singing along. I mean, this is reggae land and the music comes naturally," he explained.
Head coach of the national senior team, Carl Brown, told Showtime that the Reggae Boyz had its birth during an ill-fated tour of Africa in 1995, where they played games against Zambia and Zimbabwe.
"I remember the name first being printed in the media in Zimbabwe. In that country, they relate deeply to Bob Marley and the fact that we were from Jamaica, they struck up an instant association. The name has been very important to us, because it has given the team identity. It has done a whole lot in promoting us," he said.
While Brown is a big Bob Marley fan, the players tend to dance to a different beat, the slightly higher tempo of dancehall. That genre of music has had perhaps the greatest influence on the team.
"It is constantly played on our bus when we travel to games as well as to and from training sessions," he remarked.
Brown's most poignant memory of the team's association with the music, comes from a visit to Mexico several years ago.
"We were in a training camp at a factory site and we noticed lots of people outside. There were people on house tops and vantage points. We later learnt that they were members of the press and coach Rene Simoes asked the team to get their DJ/dancehall routine going. That was really a great moment as people like Bibi (Ricardo Gardener) and Paul Hall led the team into singing and dancing. The locals were amazed," Brown explained.
Catalyst
Psychologically, music seems to be a major catalyst for the Reggae Boyz.
"I believe they rely on it a lot. All the guys have a head set and a tape and thay are constantly listening to this type of music," he continued.
The original English-based players who turned out for Jamaica included Deon Burton, Paul Hall and Fitzroy Simpson. They wasted no time in learning the local culture and Paul Hall did a reggae recording along with Donald Stewart, with an accompanying video.
These days, the Reggae Boyz do a special jig whenever a goal is scored. It is a sampling of several popular dance forms, including L.O.Y, Tame The Bull and the Prang done in group format, with the arms folded.
At every football game, there is a large contingent of artistes and other celebrities. Radio 2 FM's Jerry Davy has been head cheerleader for a few years.
His antics get the crowd into a celebratory mood even before the kick off whistle.
"It's very hard to complete a game at the National Stadium without Jerry D," said Horace Reid. "He's really one of the unsung heroes."
Squeeze's Sky Disco has been providing the music and public address system at the games for a long time as well.
Ace DJ Beenie Man said: "The JFF doesn't have to ask us to attend a match, we usually just turn up. We realise the importance of getting the crowd in a good mood and getting the players hungry for a victory.
"Whatever songs we do are usually to boost the morale of the team, while at the same time getting the crowd roaring in the stadium.
"In some countries they use all kinds of intimidatory tactics. In Jamaica it is music; both reggae and dancehall. When a team hears how worked up the crowd gets, they have to rethink any thoughts they had of walking over Jamaica."
Charity
Reid said the JFF has been very fortunate that all the entertainers have performed at no cost to the JFF.
"From time to time we assist with expenses and we continue to get increased requests from people to perform the National Anthem and otherwise", he said.
Beenie Man said the music also helps to maintain an atmosphere of peace in the Stadium.
"We realise that there are many different types of people who come to the stadium. People from different political fences. Football is just as important to the peace as music. So we have to keep these people entertained and in good spirits," he said.
The crowd becomes so conscious of the value of music to the Reggae Boyz's performance, that at the recent game when Honduras scored in the first three minutes, the crowd went silent.
A group of enthusiasts in the bleachers then began beating pot covers and drumming, while all around a chant went up: Bob Marley's medicinal Three Little Birds' "don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright."
And so it was, Jamaica won the game three goals to one.
