Reggae Boyz must use defeat as learning curve, says Schafer

SEOUL, South Korea, CMC – Reggae Boyz head coach, Winfried Schafer, says his side must use Tuesday’s humbling 3-0 defeat to South Korea as a learning curve in order to improve.

While acknowledging that Jamaica was not at full strength because of several key players who missed the contest, the German said all three goals had come as a result of mistakes and this was cause for reflection.

Winfried Schafer
Winfried Schafer

“All players must learn from this match. Now some players know that their fitness is not good enough for this level, their technique is not good enough now, the anticipation is too slow,” he told the Jamaica Observer newspaper. “I told my players what was good and what was bad and what they need to do to improve in their clubs. I saw maybe two or three players with the potential, but they have to improve more and have more confidence.”

Playing at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Ji Dongwon put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute before captain Ki Sungyueng doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 57th minute. Six minutes later, Lee Jaesung made sure of the result for South Korea, netting after goalkeeper Andre Blake had parried a rebound.

With the defeat, Schafer said he was able to make crucial assessments, as Jamaica looked ahead to the CONCACAF fourth round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers beginning next month.

“Maybe it was 70 per cent bad things we did and 30 per cent good things, because all three goals were made from mistakes from us and we had chances for goal, too,” Schafer said.“Also, many of our players were playing for the first time against a team of this high level and high tempo and we made mistakes, so it was clear that these players together in this team couldn’t beat South Korea, one of the best teams in Asia.”

He added: “For me I saw new players, I saw players showing the level they are at now, and not just the local players. I now know which players are ready for the immediate future, like for Panama, Haiti and Costa Rica.” Jamaica will face these three teams in Group B of the qualifiers, and begin their campaign when they face Panama in Kingston on November 13.