KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Head coach Winfried Schafer has praised Jamaica’s tenacity after the Caribbean powerhouses rebounded to beat Nicaragua on Tuesday and advance to the crucial fourth round of the CONCACAF phase of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
The Reggae Boyz were on the verge of being dumped from the competition after suffering a shock 3-2 defeat to the Central American side last Friday here, but carved out a 2-0 victory in Managua in the second leg to qualify 4-3 on aggregate.
“I believe before in my team. I saw the spirit from the Gold Cup coming back and all the players knew what was wrong from the match on Friday,” the German told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.
“They were a little arrogant knowing that is was Nicaragua and when you work very hard you have luck, and we had luck in this match and that is what is very important.”
Vancouver Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks scored the opening goal in the 13th minute but it was substitute Simon Dawkins’s brilliant 89th minute volley which sealed Jamaica’s progression through to the next round.
Schafer hailed the 27-year-old Derby County forward, noting that he was a quality part of the Reggae Boyz set up.
“Normally, in my head Simon Dawkins is every time in my team. He’s a very good player. He can keep the ball and has good passes, and in this match the field was good for him,” Schafer pointed out.
“In the last 10 minutes we talked on the bench with the coaches and we said put him behind the strikers, and he delivered. I’m happy for him and I hope he makes the next step.”
Schafer said it was important that Jamaica’s football authorities began to urgently build on the team’s recent success.
“I’m happy for Jamaica, I’m happy for us, but we have to work harder now for the future for the local players,” said the 65-year-old.
“We need better training fields. If not now, when? The time is now and there are many things that I’m not happy (about). We bring every time good results, but the future is not tomorrow, not after tomorrow, it is now.”
Jamaica will now contest Group B of the fourth round alongside Costa Rica, Panama and Haiti from November 13 to September 6 next year.
The two top teams from the three groups will meet in the fifth round.