JUREIDINI - File

WHEREAS the nation has been seething at Rene Simoes for the Reggae Boyz' failure to advance to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, another Brazilian coach is being hailed by Harbour View's management as the best thing since sliced bread.

Manager Clyde Jureidini last night sang the praises of Waldemar de Oliveira, who guided the Stars of the East to a 2-1 win over Tivoli Gardens in Sunday's first-round final of the Digicel Premier League.

Professional approach

Jureidini, part of Harbour View's management, which sacked former player and national star Lenny Hyde near the end of last season, said de Oliveira, who has coached national teams in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, brought a professional approach to the entire club, from turf to main office, at the Compound.

This professionalism, Jureidini said, was in stark contrast to what existed previously under some of the best local coaches money could buy.

"Why we went this way was because we have had coaches, for the last 15 years, who we considered to be the top local coaches.

Juredini said it was not a situation that local coaches did not know the game, they were simply not professionals.

Creatures of habit

"We felt much more needed to be done. In the professional world, you see how evolved people are. We all are creatures of habit, operating at the highest level in a Jamaican environment.

"We also have limitations because our coaches have not been fully exposed to professional environments. It's not that they don't know the game. They do not have have experiences as professional players or coaches.

"Having won the Caribbean Club Championship twice, we saw a difference in preparation and implementation, which other clubs had. We realised we were a big step behind, four to six steps behind, in terms of general resources," Jureidini explained.

He went as far to say Jamaica is still lagging behind the likes of Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico and other Eastern Caribbean countries in football resources.

Professionalism, he said, was sorely lacking.

"We used to have a training system of four days - Monday to Thursday - and probably Saturday, once per day. He has five to six days of training and, for at least four days, they train twice per day," Jureidini pointed out.

Work ethic

"The work ethic he has brought is not just to the team but the entire club. Everybody, players and staff, arrive at eight in the morning and leave probably 6:30 at nights.

"It's a complete work day, attracting commitment and professionalism in how you conduct yourself in training," he added.

Rest time, Jureidini said, is still spent on football.

"It's rest but an active rest before preparing to go again in the afternoon," he explained. "What we usually have is work for two to three hours, instead of a full day, and we carried that attitude into the match.

Part-time attitude

"You don't play a half match in football. They are now prepared to play on a different level because their attitude is now a full-time job rather than a part-time attitude. The concentration level is longer and much more intense."

Jureidini said Harbour View, the first club to get a million-dollar signing to Europe when Ricardo Gardner went to Bolton Wanderers after the 1998 World Cup, wants its players to be competitive with those from other countries.

"We want to expose the players and club to a fully professional environment. We sought the advice of people, who have day-to-day and year-to-year club experience. So, we chose this coach and, so far, he has galvanised the professionalism of the entire club."

"If we are developing talent for Europe, we have to be better than what they have and that has to come, first and foremost, from coaching.

"That's why we have three of our coaches directly with him and another three part-time."

However, de Oliveira did not come cheap.

"We have invested in his experience and knowledge. It's difficult for us to do. We're trying to hold on by our fingertips"

So far, so good for Harbour View, who have lost just two matches this season, qualified for the first round final with a game in hand and are two points clear of Tivoli Gardens atop the standings.

"In terms of results, I must congratulate the coaching staff for re-establishing our consistency in the first round," said Jureidini.