Grand finale for Boyz
. tackle Coritiba FC in last match on tour
Sean Williams with the Reggae Boyz in Curitiba, Brazil
Sunday, March 16, 2008



CURITIBA, Brazil - Like Jamaica, Rene Simoes is a hero here. He enjoys God-like status in the city of Curitiba after guiding their football team from the Serie B to the Serie A Serie B last year.

The Brazilian's greatest achievement as a coach has to be the extraordinary feat of qualifying Jamaica for World Cup Finals in France 1998 - a first for both him and Jamaica.


Members of the Reggae Boyz and Coritiba Football Club sit together after respective training sessions a the Brazilian club's training centre near Curitiba, Brazil, yesterday. (Photo: Sean Williams)

When his old club, Coritiba, host the Reggae Boyz in a practice game today at 11:00 am (9:00 am Jamaica time) at the Estadio Municipal dos Pinhao, one suspects the fans will not be cheering for the home team nor Jamaica, but more likely the adoration will be trained on Simoes.

It is expected that both sets of players will have their priorities on the field of play worked out early, however: play hard, play well and aim to win. Simoes' status for them at that point would be of little significance when the first whistle goes.

Coritiba will be taking this game seriously as they drive to do better than their state rivals - Parana Club and Atletico Paranaense - whom the touring home-based Boyz defeated 3-2 and 2-1, respectively.

A win over Jamaica today will give Coritiba fans bragging rights and ammunition against their rivals.

"Coritiba are coming not to party, they're coming to play a game. The rivalry between the three clubs here is so intense. because we beat Parana Club and Atletico, Coritiba will be coming strong, and if they beat us, the supporters are going tease the other two," Simoes said.

Jamaica's superb performance in defeating Atletico, one of the wealthiest clubs in Brazil, could put added pressure on the team, which is at the end of their three-week tour.

"The good thing about the game against Atletico on Thursday is that the players enjoyed it; they were so proud, and they felt so good. But the bad side is that in the game against Coritiba they have to perform and now Coritiba are looking at them very seriously," said the Brazilian.

"Every day you have to kill a lion to prove yourself, that is what top-class football is about," Simoes urged his players.

He did not name a starting 11 yesterday, but considering the team's classy display against Atletico, he is expected to go with Duwayne Kerr in goal; Adrian Reid, Christopher Jackson, Keniel Moodie and Obrian Woodbine in defence; the brilliant Rudolph Austin, who scored a beauty against Atletico, Nicholy Finlayson, Wolry Wolfe and Eric Vernon could take control of the middle of the park, while James Thomas and Navion Boyd could assume duties up front.

The match forms part of the 318 years of foundation of the city of Sao Jose dos Pinhais, and initial estimates suggest that "a big crowd" is expected.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, arrived in Brazil on Thursday on the special invitation of the Mayor of Curitiba, Leopoldo Meyer.

Burrell will be a special guest for at the game and as part of the itinerary, he had a tour of the city with the mayor.

JFF general secretary, Horace Reid, and technical committee chairman, Howard McIntosh, arrived in Brazil on Wednesday.

The game is the Boyz's last before departing for home tomorrow. They have already played six - winning three, drawing two and losing one.