Adrian Frater, News Editor

Whitmore

Western Bureau:

Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, the interim head coach of Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz, is hopping mad at the management of Reno FC, who reportedly charged him an entry fee to watch Sunday's Cash Plus Premier League fixture between Reno and St. Georges at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) on Sunday.

"When I got to the gate, I was told that I had to pay," said Whitmore, who is currently preparing the national team for upcoming friendly matches against El Salvador and Guatemala. "So, as to avoid the embarrassment, I went into my pocket and paid the entry fee."

Came with other persons

Responding to the claim, Patrick Malcolm, president of Reno FC, said: "He (Whitmore) came in a van with eight persons and we decided to offer him and three of the persons free entry and charge the others," said Malcolm. "Some of those who were asked to pay became boisterous and after much arguing, Mr. Whitmore took it upon himself to pay for everybody. We would never charge 'Tappa'," continued Malcolm. "If anything, we were most embarrassed by the behaviour of those around him and the stance he took."

St. James FA President Orville Powell, the head honcho at Seba United, where Whitmore is head coach, said: "He (Tappa) should not have had to be digging into his pocket at the gate, the situation should have been handled better," said Powell. "'Tappa' did not want to travel to the game alone so I knew a few persons went with him, but definitely not eight persons."