LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Rene Simoes - file

The analogy was humorous but poignant. At yesterday's awards ceremony for the Sherwin Williams Women's League, technical director of football René Simoes urged the women to show off their Mercedes-Benz. Simoes was using the luxury vehicle as a synonym for the confidence inside each player and brought the point home with one of his famous stories.

"There was once a man who had a beautiful Mercedes-Benz," the Brazilian began his analogy in his usual broken English. "But every day he would lock up his Mercedes in his garage and no one would see it, so who knew he had a Mercedes?"

"Your Mercedes-Benz," he said directly to the players, "is your confidence. Believe in yourself - you are all Mercedes."

Simoes was the guest speaker at the ceremony held at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) office in New Kingston. Among the top teams for the season - Waterhouse (Premier League champs), Reno ('A' league champs) and Harbour View (knockout champs) - were a number of national players who will be in action in the coming weeks in various tournaments. Simoes' aim was to stroke their self-conviction, particularly the U-17 and U-20 teams that have tough CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers ahead of them.

"Without confidence you have nothing because you don't know who you are," Simoes said. "You have to discover the courage and confidence you have inside."

During his speech, the technical director drew reference to Jamaica's senior men's team that qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France, stating that the development of their self-belief was a critical ingredient to their success.

Simoes also had a similar experience while coaching Brazil's women team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

"The girls always say that they discovered their self confidence and courage which led them to win silver in Athens, and then they go on to win the Pan American gold and silver at the World Cup," Simoes added.

The U-20 team will play in a CONCACAF World Championship qualifier between June 17-28 in Mexico, while the U-17 team will be in Trinidad and Tobago between July 17-26 for their qualifiers.

The U-15 girls will take part in a Caribbean tournament from July 30 - August 4 in Trinidad and Tobago.

JFF president Captain Horace Burrell pointed out that it is very costly to maintain four women's teams (including the senior team) but that "once I'm president I will make all opportunities available to the girls."