Lack of home support a factor in struggling WCQ campaign for Boyz – Flemmings
Published:Sunday | October 10, 2021 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
National midfielder Junior Flemmings says that the return of fans to the National Stadium for home games will provide the extra boost necessary to spur the Reggae Boyz on in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
His comments come as Jamaica will once again play a home game without the home crowd when they face Canada today at 5:00 p.m.
Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie on Wednesday rejected the Jamaica Football Federation’s proposal to have a limited number of fully vaccinated fans in attendance for the game, citing that they cannot accommodate any massive gatherings because of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
Jamaica were defeated by Panama 3-0 in their first home game on September 5, which was also played without spectators.
Flemmings says that the lack of home support to start their campaign has played a role in their difficult start, which has seen them play three of their last four games on the road.
“It definitely does play a factor. I can recall playing in the stadium against Panama, it was quiet. Panama came in and they were confident, they were moving the ball. Literally, it’s like they were playing at their home or they had training or something. They don’t feel the Jamaica atmosphere, they don’t feel intimidated by our fans chanting and such,” Flemmings told The Sunday Gleaner. “So it does play a big part.”
The Reggae Boyz are the only team in the eight-team final round that has not had the luxury of having its home support available for games compared to the other seven teams, who have allowed fans back into their respective stadiums. The United States specifically have been able to host spectators at full capacity at their venues.
It is an issue that Flemmings hopes can be resolved when the United States visit the National Stadium on November 16. However, for now, he says that they have to look to themselves to give more to get crucial points starting today.
SELF-MOTIVATION
“For sure that would make the situation a lot better,” Flemmings said. “Playing the US at home everyone knows that it is a tough place to play. They really got their fans behind them and that drive and that 12th man. I think for us obviously it will be a lot different. We can’t have fans so we have to find that self-motivation to go out there even in an empty stadium and say listen, we all know why we are here in it.”
Medical doctor Dr Wykeham McNeill says that although the November international window presents the best opportunity of getting fans back into the stands, approval would depend on more persons getting vaccinated as well as how the COVID-19 situation is managed during this third wave.
“The later things are, is the more chance you have and the greater number of vaccinations. But we are going to have to get to some critical mass because we have been having surges. It doesn’t take much for it to peak or go back up again if you don’t maintain certain protocols,” McNeill said.