Speid appeals to fans after Boyz beat Guatemala

Although delighted to win his first international match on home soil, Reggae Boyz interim Head Coach Rudolph Speid says he’s hoping to see increased fan support at the National Stadium going forward as they attempt to rebuild the team. Jamaica began their group stage campaign in the Concacaf Nations League A on Friday with a nervy 3-2 win over Guatemala. It was the first time the national senior men’s team had played at the National Stadium since a goalless draw with Curaçao last November prevented them from automatically qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, which concluded in July. Friday’s attendance was a dramatic drop from the more than 35,000 fans who watched the Curaçao game in November, with just over 3,000 turning out to see Renaldo Cephas spare Jamaica’s blushes with a last-minute strike. With FIFA President Gianni Infantino in attendance hoping to experience a vibrant Jamaican atmosphere for the first time, the stadium’s silence got louder as Oscar Santis put Guatemala ahead inside the second minute. However, the Boyz eventually found life as Kasey Palmer equalised in the 37 minute and Rumarn Burrell put them ahead in the 53rd minute. Guatemala, though, wouldn’t roll over as Santis returned in the 67th minute, capitalising on a mistake from veteran defender Damion Lowe. However, substitute Cephas ensured Jamaicans went home with something to cheer about this time around as his low strike in the final minute of stoppage time gave the Boyz the win. It was Speid’s first match as head coach in Kingston, having played his previous seven overseas. He’s hoping it’s the start of a resurgence for the national team. “It was good to coach the national team in front of our crowd and get a win, because we really need the spectators to come back to the stadium,” he said in his post-match press conference. “I think with this excitement, I’m hoping that Monday, a lot more people will come.” Many fans and stakeholders have been critical since his appointment last November following Steve McClaren’s resignation. A handful of fans inside the stadium on Friday expressed their displeasure with him, calling for him to step aside. Speid, however, says he remains unbothered as he seeks to do the best for the men’s programme. “When I come into the stadium, I don’t see anybody criticising me,” he said. “I hear one or two little persons, but the majority of the persons were encouraging me to go on and win the game. “And you have a few people in the media, that’s their prerogative, but I’m not even thinking about them. We have three more games, and that’s what we’re focusing on.” Speid admits to considering tactical changes for the game against Honduras on Monday. “I am one of those coaches that tries different things,” he said. “Fortune favours the brave. So, yes, you could see me playing a back three next. You could see a back four. That’s really who I am.” In spite of the close margin of victory, Speid says he got his tactics right on the day. “We thought, though, in training, that was the best way to start, and I thought we were doing pretty well, but we just thought that based on how Guatemala was playing, switching to a back four was a better deal for us, (5:30) and that’s what we did,” he said. The win puts Jamaica tied for second with Suriname in Group B on three points with El Salvador leading on goal difference after their 3-1 win over Martinique on Friday. Jamaica play their second of four group games on Monday with only the top two advancing to the quarter-finals of the tournament. “I expect [Honduras] to be tough,” he said. “I expect them to be wary too because they will have seen us play and have a good understanding of what we are likely to do. “But this is Jamaica. We are going to fight them every step of the way and try to play properly while we’re doing it and see what happens.”   Starting XI: Andre Blake, Joel Latibeaudiere, Damion Lowe, Richard King, Isaac Hayden, Karoy Anderson, Kasey Palmer (65’), Ronaldo Webster, Tyreece Campbell (45’), Rumarn Burrell (72’), Javon East (45’). Substitutes: Kaheim Dixon (46’), Renaldo Cephas (46’), Courtney Clarke (65’), Bailey Cadamarteri (72’)