DONOVAN DAVIS, Nicora Plummer, Dwayne Williams. There's something about these names, new faces in the national football team chosen for this Hong Kong series by technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic.

I am especially happy for Allien Whittaker, who, despite being selected in the 2001 Under-20 World Cup All-Star XI, has always been ignored by the national senior coaches.

Milutinovic, also new on the job, has main responsibilities for qualifying the Reggae Boyz to the next World Cup in South Africa.

Qualifiers won't begin until next year and he has been doing a fair bit of scouting at Premier League and other football matches at different locations across the country, doing a fair bit of videotaping as well, including the match at the National Stadium between the Boyz and Peru.

Matches were also organised to aid Milutinovic's assessment/recruitment drive.

Hence, the names Davis, from Portland team St. George's, Plummer, from east rural St. Andrew team Bull Bay, and Williams, who would have got easier recognition because he plays for Wray and Nephew National Premier League team Reno.

Foreign coaches

A comparison of Milutinovic's method with other foreign coaches used here recently, and with that of locals who have held a similar position, shows it to be a good one, at least for a start.

Nearly two years ago, Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni took over the Jamaica team from Carl Brown on the eve of a qualifier against the United States at the National Stadium.

In that match, Jamaica led 1-0, only to concede an equaliser almost right at the final whistle. The Jamaica team was clearly tired and had at least an available substitution. Lazaroni said he did not know the players so he didn't know what changes to make.

The Brazilian had been drafted as technical director before, in 2002, but left citing, mainly, the unavailability of overseas-based players for matches.

If he had stayed in Jamaica and scouted local talent in that manner, one thing is certain: He would have known the players.

Another Brazilian, Clovis de Oliviera, had been here for a while before taking up the post of technical director.

What de Oliveira did was to work with the squad he was given.

In a way, it is almost similar, though a bit different, from what the local coaches generally do - work with the same set of players most of the times. The real difference with the locals is that they pick an unnecessarily high number of players from their own clubs.

Another Brazilian, Rene Simoes,came just about the time Bora has, in terms of the period existing between qualifying.

In almost similar fashion, he went about the place checking out the ballgames and came up with many ballers only few people but those in and around those nook and crannies would have known about.

Established players

Then, he fashioned them into his plans with the already established players and in the end, came up with a solid squad that got some unparallelled levels of support - monetary and otherwise - and the rest is history.

Sometimes, the difference in quality that this one, two or few unknown talent(s) bring to the table makes that difference to take the team over the hub, and it is important that the coach selects his players because he is supposed to know what he is looking for.

Next topic: Marlon King again, and his two-year ban.

It's funny how some times because you don't write certain things, some people who are involved take it that you didn't know.

Like, for example, how King used some choice words to threaten and express his disgust at being locked out of his room after Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Jason Euell and he 'broke camp' after the 4-1 Ghana defeat in Britain last year.

You see, some people have a grand way of getting to Point Z without starting at Point A or going past any other point. Point is, it all adds up. What is done at Point A, B, C, D, etcetera, all contribute to the final outcome and if people are violated, then some react rather contrarily.

Disrespectful

Taking people from the comfort of their homes and locking them out of their room, camp or no camp, is downright disrespectful and some people will respond to that in a downright disrespectful manner.

Further, it was reported to the world that Claude Davis's absence held up the team and caused Jamaica to arrive for the Ghana match more than half hour late. The team's hotel was only 10 minutes from the stadium.

Don't know of him ever receiving a suspension for that, so I guess it's a very light matter.

Hope some of these new names, if they make the grade, are treated impartially and with respect.

In the same way that Milutinovic is choosing his own squad, I hope he ensures that.