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Zapata: Jamaicans ‘must awaken hunger for success’ - Argentinian says 50 per cent Reggae Boyz should include players from JPL
February 24, 2025
FORMER HEAD coach of Montego Bay United (MBU) Rodolfo Zapata believes while half of the talented local players in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) should make up the roster of the Reggae Boyz, the players themselves must be hungry to achieve.
That hunger, he says must be shown by the Jamaica team that will be vying for a place at the next FIFA Men's World Cup, given the team having its best ever opportunity to qualify with six spots available top Concacaf countries.
In fact, Zapata says the time for the Reggae Boyz to qualify is now.
"I believe that the Reggae Boyz should be formed with 50 per cent of local players and the other 50 with players from abroad," Zapata told STAR Sports. "There are many talents, but you have to have a very good eye to detect them.
"Mount Pleasant and Cavalier are doing an excellent job in this regard. I like Nickalia Fuller from Tivoli Gardens, Jalmaro Calvin from Cavalier, Daniel Green from Mount Pleasant, Renaldo Wellington from MBU, and Tarick Ximines from Portmore United," said Zapata, listing some JPL players he believes are talented enough to be regular members of the Jamaica men's senior football team.
Asked if he believes there is enough energy around Jamaica's football to make it work, Zapata said talent in the JPL shows there is.
"We must awaken that hunger for success that Africans have. Jamaica is a beautiful country and many players live in a comfort zone and sometimes do not want to sacrifice (for) success," he assessed.
"The life of a footballer is very short and they have to understand that at the age of 30 or 35 their career is over," Zapata said.
"The same thing happens with the Reggae Boyz.
"They have a unique opportunity to qualify for the next World Cup since Mexico, Canada and the USA are the organisers. It's now or never."
Just over a week ago, the Argentinian Zapata and MBU parted ways in surprising fashion, by mutual consent. He has been replaced by Paul 'Tegat' Davis for the rest of the Wray and Nephew-sponsored (JPL) 2024-25 season.
Zapata was brought in at MBU during July 2024 to replace Brazilian Neider Dos Santos, who was let go by the club at the end of last season.
MBU sit third in the standings and given that the top six qualify for the final run-up to the title, they appear certain to make the playoffs. Zapata's seven-month tenure as head coach of MBU included 13 wins, six draws, and four losses.
He says coaching in the JPL was excellent and that it is impossible to compare the Argentine league with the JPL, for different reasons.
Having coached in nations such as Africa, the United States and Canada, Zapata said the cultural difference between Jamaica and Argentina did not affect him while being here.
"Adaptation is a key word in my profession. No one country is like the other, and thus the need to adapt wherever one finds himself. Besides, each place provides an opportunity to learn something different," Zapata explained.
He reasoned that a country lives the same way they play football, and plays the same way they live.
"I have always said Brazilians convey their carnival-type joy when it comes time to step onto the pitch. Countries that have lived through wars translate this feeling on the pitch as they play tactically every match and play to earn a result.
"In Asia, they run or ride on their bike through the streets of cities like Beijing, Tokyo or Seoul. Their teams play the same way," Zapata said.
"African football represents their race to a tee. Despite the lack of resources, they are a very happy, respectful and educated people, but they are highly disorganised and you can notice that in the World Cup," he observed.
"But they are hungry to succeed, so it is not surprising to find Africans in the big European teams."
Continuing, he added, "In the US, they say, 'time is money'. Life is a business, and that is directly transmitting this sentiment to their soccer style. Sometimes they have wrong ideas, and sometimes they make good business decisions like bringing Messi to play in Miami."
