All Over the world technical directors (TD) are known for making mind-boggling selections or shocking omissions. Whenever it comes to the picking of national squads, evidently, Jamaica's TD Rene Simoes is in no mood to shake off that mantle.
Most will be forced to admit, whether we like it or not, that right now the Reggae Boyz lack defensive quality. Anyone who disagrees with that not only has a shocking 1-2 loss to Grenada in Wednesday's friendly international to explain, but the fact that the team has conceded a goal in their last five games against opponents of varying strength.
Meanwhile, there are other players who have not been included in Simoes' team who could easily have been, like Sean Fraser and Khari Stephenson. In the context of the Reggae Boyz's defensive woes, the constant side-stepping of English Premier League (EPL) team, Sunderland, centre half Nyron Nosworthy, a defender who has shown the capability of holding his own in perhaps the world's best league, is an exclusion by Simoes as confounding as any.
Obviously, adding a quality defender won't solve all our problems, but in the current crop of players he has definitely warranted inclusion.
Need for strength
While admitting the need to strengthen the back line, the coach has ignored a player who expressed an interest in representing the Reggae Boyz without being asked to do so, since an outstanding season in England's Championship division one year ago.
While the TD has refused to comment on the issue, citing a need to avoid a bad situation, which arose in Trinidad, reports indicate that the coach was not impressed enough with the defender. Not impressed enough, well sir, that would be interesting.
For those of us who have watched the defender for most of the season - and this does not only speak to the local fan base, but the international ones who are just as fervent in their support of the Reggae Boyz - he certainly was.
In fact, the defender seemed to have done enough to impress former TD Velibor Milutinovic, who had called the player for the Jamaica versus Ghana friendly but had seen the game called off.
In several competent displays last season for struggling Sunderland, the centreback was praised by commentators, fans and Sunderland manager Roy Keane. Of that group someone, somewhere along the line must know something about football.
The problem for Simoes stems from an earlier statement, in which he claimed not to know several of the players available for selection. Obviously, in just a one-week stint in England, an assessment of the defender must have been done at the wrong time or not thoroughly enough.
Injury
In fact, while the opinion of the TD must be respected, I dare say that anyone who has followed the EPL would keel over with laughter, should they learn of the fact that Derby County's Claude Davis, who had a howler of a season for the club, albeit carrying an injury, was selected over an available Nosworthy.
Other overseas defensive selections include Ian Goodison who, I must commend for having an excellent season for Tranmere Rovers in the English Division one, but I have my doubts it would have been the same if he played in the top flight.
Another defender, Simon Ford who plays in the Scottish Premier League, was recommended by former Reggae Boy Fitzroy Simpson. Well, let's see, maybe we can petition the Jamaica Football Federation to involve Nosworthy in the team. Start the emails.
