Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

National technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic addressing members of the press, sponsors and football fraternity at a press conference held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday. The press conference was held to officially welcome the coach who arrived in the island a month ago. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

The eyes of a hopeful nation will now turn towards new national Technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic as he officially takes up the responsibility of shepherding Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, as they embark on a long arduous journey to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) finally announced the signing of the Serbian to a contract expected to be worth around US$1 million (J$66 million) per year for the next four years, yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel's Negril Suite.

"We are very pleased with the appointment. We have managed to sign a coach with incomparable international experience for the assignment," said JFF president Crenston Boxhill. "He has a good knowledge of the region, their coaches and their players and that should prove a valuable asset to us as we embark on our campaign."

The 62-year-old Milutinovic, who has now been here for a month, is already hard at work and has been seen observing local football games at various levels. By his own account, he has been impressed with what he has seen so far.

Good young players

" I have seen very good young players in several of the leagues so far and that is a good thing. They are strong and are very enthusiastic towards the game," the technical director explained.

"Jamaica, I think, was a very good selection. I was here when they qualified against Mexico and I saw the joy of the people and I want to be a part of that again," he added.

However, while many secretly hope for Milutinovic, known by many interna-tionally as a 'magician', to be the second coming, not of Christ but perhaps of Rene Simoes, he has once again stressed that patience will be key.

"People are going to need to believe, believe in the team and believe in the coach," Milutinovic said.

"We will need to work hard, but we must have patience. We have solid players and the time to put together a very good team."

The technical director also went on to stress that a positive attitude and discipline from his players will be an important part of their selection. As part of his contract, Milutinovic, who is expected to select a local coaching staff for the time being, will work closely with developing local coaches over the next two years.

Milutinovic, now a Mexican national, is the only person to have coached five different teams at the World Cup. Mexico (1986), Costa Rica (1990), the United States (1994), Nigeria (1998), and China (2002). He is also the first coach to take four different teams beyond the first round.