Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) technical director-in-waiting, John Barnes (left), greets JFF president Captain Horace Burrell at The Pegasus hotel. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Coach-in-waiting John Barnes is impressed by the fighting qualities of the Reggae Boyz after witnessing Jamaica's upset win over Mexico on Saturday night in a crucial World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.

However, Barnes believes the Boyz must quickly shelve the emotions from that victory and turn their full focus on the next must-win game against Honduras on Wednesday.

Barnes, who will take over as Jamaica football's technical director on November 1, watched the game from a booth in the grandstand and attributed the Boyz 1-0 victory to the total commitment of a team facing a do-or-die situation to keep its hopes for World Cup 2010 qualification alive.

Performance of spirit

"It was a performance of spirit, determination and desire," Jamaican-born Barnes, a former World Cup star for England where he played professionally, said yesterday morning. "Individually and from the team overall."

However, he cautioned that Jamaica cannot afford to languish in Saturday's euphoria and must now turn their attention solely to Honduras, the team - along with Mexico - is battling the Boyz for one of two top places in the CONCACAF semi-final round group. Canada's 3-1 loss to Honduras on Saturday eliminated the North American country.

Long way to go

"We still have long way to go," said Barnes, matching Jamaica's current position on four points with two games to go against nine each for Mexico and Honduras, both with the same number of Group Two fixtures left. "Mexico is gone now. We have to show the same desire (against Honduras). But the players recognise what they have to do."

Barnes was visibly overjoyed when Jamaica scored the game's only goal early in the first half. The man known for his nimble feet as a player, leapt out of his seat in jubilation and congratulated members of the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) staff who shared the booth with him.

"Weren't we all excited," he said. "It was a great occasion for the players and country. To score a goal against a good team was great."

However, he cautioned that Honduras, who are ranked 50th by football world's governing body FIFA, pose an equally stiff challenge.

"It will be a different game," said Barnes, naming several players from the Central Americans' camp he believes will be pivotal to Wednesday's outcome. "Honduras has a very good team."

Natural ability

Yet, Barnes believes Jamaica's football talent is good enough to do well against quality teams like Mexico, currently ranked 24th by FIFA. Jamaica are ranked 116th, their lowest ever.

"I like the natural ability we have," he explained, adding that he already knew some of the players, especially those based in England, and has met several others since he arrived in the island last week.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.