THE REGGAE Boyz scored an important victory for the country's football programme they spearhead, by winning the Digicel Caribbean Championship.

Having failed to advance in World Cup qualifying series for South Africa 2010, the championship, Jamaica's fourth lien on the regional event, was just what the doctor ordered.

No other placing would have been sufficient in this urgent quest to rebuild the sport which had been on a path to recovery before the World Cup snag fragmented it to a level from which it will take years to be fully revived.

Clear signal

The signals are clear, mirrored distinctly by the attendance, or lack of it, during the Digicel Caribbean Championships where hardly 5,000 turned out on any of the match days, even the final at the National Stadium.

This alone is a significant contrast to the crowds that overflowed the very capacity of 'The Office', with cycle track and party stand seating only a few weeks back when the Boyz and the country, full of hope, threw every bit of effort into saving a World Cup bid that had long been snuffed out in the first half of the semi-final round campaign with defeats in Central American territories Mexico and Honduras and a draw in Canada.

The wounds are very deep and beside the most obvious feelings through vastly eliminated gate receipts, other support mechanisms that go hand in hand with World Cup contention such as bonuses from even its equipment and other sponsors, plus funds it would've made in a successful trek 'Back to Africa', have been scythed in rather painful fashion, for some.

Just Sunday, as the team celebrated its triumph, the smiles were wiped off the faces of some workers for the sport when the Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell, announced impending staff cuts as a counter to its mounting financial problems during a post-match press conference.

This could not have been the Yuletide message any anticipated. Harsh realities really, in really hard times.

Even ahead of an assessment, the JFF president went on to list its expected losses for staging the tournament at J$28 million.

Earnings for winning the tournament totalled US$120,000, which is less than J$10 million.

Then there are numerous overheads, including salaries and money to prepare teams, most notably the Under-20s who are still on a path to World Cup qualification and would provide great relief by doing such.

Yet, the great hope remains the Reggae Boyz and what they do between now and the Gold Cup next year, for which they did the crucially important thing to qualify during the Digicel Caribbean Championship.

There will be a number of FIFA dates next year and with their ranking certain to soar, the prospects of attracting quality opposition should be enhanced.

Their own ability in playing attractively and making good results, preferably the Big Ws, will go a far way in helping football's cause here, especially given the crowd scenarios that will play heavily upon the minds of the sport's governors whenever they sit down to plan.

New head coach issue

The team has a new head coach, John Barnes, the first English-speaking foreign-based one (as he's Jamaica-born) in decades. He communicates clearly and appears to have a clearly defined goal as far as the team adopting its own style is concerned.

The Digicel Caribbean Champion-ship was a good, early opportunity for the players to show their adaptation but not all times did they appear on song, especially as it relates to the coach's stated desire of breaking down a team as a team, and game management.

Obviously, it requires playing according to the game situation, thus necessitating adaptability to differing modes based on whether you are leading or chasing the game. Strategising is important, moreso in competition where results occupy far greater importance than beauty.

Against Martinique in the Digicel Championship semis, the Reggae Boyz were generally good at managing proceedings when they held the lead, by playing a high-possession game and hitting on the break when the opponents predictably committed as they chased the game and left gaps for exploitation.

Technicality of the match

In the final against Grenada, particularly in the second-half, the team - probably growing more tense as it got a clearer picture of the finish line - never controlled proceedings, often squandering possession with poor passing to outnumbered teammates, while rushing forward movement unnecessarily out of areas where it had far more numbers and simpler passes.

Regular training drills, including passes accumulating for team goals and man-in-the-middle exercises, are very similar to the circumstances that presented themselves oftentimes in the Grenada match, drills that weren't used.

Of course, it calls for confidence, self-belief and the character to deal with crowds bawling for the entertainment that's easier to roll out when the game is properly managed.

Success in that regard will go a far way in aiding the Reggae Boyz to secure more important victories for the football programme, of which they have major duties to repair.