Tom Curtis Defends His Positions

Details

Football

Thursday, 14 June 2012 02:30

By Ian Magic Hughes

Antigua St John's - Tom Curtis, coach of the Antigua & Barbuda national football team the Benna Boyz, has defended his decisions to play one striker as well as his substitution patterns following two matches in the semis of the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.

In both games the Benna Boyz made two substitutions and started one striker, which led to a loss and a draw for one point in two games.

Antigua & Barbuda is tied with Guatemala with a point each in Group A of the tournament with the United States and Jamaica equal at the top on four points.

In the first game in Tampa Florida, Curtis was blasted by local football analysts and fans for not starting Peter Byers who came on in the second half and scored, causing panic on the USA bench.

On Tuesday against the Jamaican Reggae Boyz here at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium the coach was criticized this time for starting Byers, who had at least three good chances to score - but the home team could only manage a draw.

The coach also came under tremendous fire for what many call ‘being too defensive minded’ or ‘playing not to lose.’

Speaking to Jojo Apparicio on ‘Good Morning Jojo’ on Hitz 91.1 fm, Curtis held his ground on the criticisms fired at him.

“We scored the most goals in the FIFA qualifiers,” said Curtis, as he addressed the issue of being too defensive. He added:

“We created a number of chances (against Jamaica) but we were unable to score.”

As to the one striker format, Curtis contends that he is not locked into any one format but will play according to what the opponents throw at them.

“We’ve always been flexible.

“We tried different setups and as we move forward we will do what’s necessary to deal with the opponents,” the coach stated.

Curtis was also blasted for not playing striker Kerry “Arab” Skepple in both games, despite the fact that it was he (Skepple) that scored the goal to get Antigua & Barbuda through to the semis.

“We make the best decisions at the time,” Curtis confirmed.

“We made two substitutions and it was not was not important to make another (as the team was playing well).”

The coach also shot down allegations that he and the senior players are at odds and there may be dissension in the camp.

“The unity in the camp is great,” the coach confirmed.

“We spent two great weeks at the IMG training facility (in Sarasota Florida) where we utilized sports psychologists and we have a good relationship.”

Looking ahead, Curtis is confident that the Benna Boyz is well placed to make it through to Rio notwithstanding one point from two games.

There are concerns that Dexter Blackstock who started against the US but did not play against the Reggae Boyz may have been a bad pick for the team.

Curtis said that Blackstock has given his all for Antigua & Barbuda despite a bad injury last year but was hit in the opening encounter against the US.

“He (Dexter) has being nursing an injury (coming into Tuesday’s game) after he picked up a knock against the US.

“He wanted to play but we made the decision that it would not be in his or the team’s best interest to play on Tuesday,” the coach said.

“This is a man who is willing to put his body on the line but it was not worth the risk.”

There have also been calls for the insertion of midfield general Rolston “Lexi” Phoenix into the side since there are concerns about a weak middle.

The coach has not closed the door to anyone as the qualifiers are an ongoing process and whoever will help will be recruited.

Most members of the team except the English based players will leave the country today for Charlotte, North Carolina to play in the USL with the Antigua & Barbuda Barracudas.

They will play in the USL until the Benna Boyz continues its World Cup campaign in September when they play the US here at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and the Reggae Boyz in Jamaica.

Curtis believes that all is not lost and that the Benna Boyz have an opportunity to make it to Rio in 2014.

“We are still in it,” the coach said. It was important that we got something last night (against Jamaica) We deserve to be here. It took a lot of hard work and we can compete. We are a team to be reckoned with."

“When we started, we were the minnows but now we are certainly a team that no one would take lightly.”

While Curtis did not make light of the criticisms of his style he said that one has to recognize that Antigua & Barbuda is playing against quality opposition and have demonstrated that ‘they have a right to be here.’

• < Prev
• Next >