It Seems To Me . . .

Even in despair, Jamaicans make soccer a joyful experience.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

KINGSTON, Jamaica (Thursday, August 19, 2004) -- With one blast from his right foot, American Brian Ching stunned Jamaica's national team, a capacity crowd of 27,000 at National Stadium and demoralized millions in this island nation. He was immune to the pressure of the moment and calmly buried the equalizer in the 89th minute to give the United States men a hard-fought 1-1 draw last night in the opening game for both nations in the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Coming from the United States, where the exploits of its national soccer team go unnoticed by a large percentage of the sports-mad populace, it is hard to understand how much this particular match gripped Jamaica. Not only was National Stadium, "The Office" as it is commonly known, a sea of yellow shirts filling every seat, corner and railing, but the country as a whole came to a stop. "History in the making," was the theme shouted by newspaper headlines, radio stations, and from the DJ playing reggae in the stadium at ear-splitting levels for hours before the match.

Everyone from Louis, the cab driver from the airport, to Sandrea Falconer, the communications manager of Air Jamaica, to hotel and restaurant workers, all shared the same sentiment. "We love that you have come to our country, but we're going to win this time. We're sorry, but you're going home a loser. But please come back and visit us again."

In truth, Jamaicans love "football," and their Reggae Boyz, but have developed something of a complex about playing the U.S. Jamaica has never defeated the Americans, going 0-8-6. The four qualifiers have ended tied, the first three scoreless affairs in Kingston, while the U.S. won the only friendly in Jamaica 2-1.

Many Jamaicans feel they are jinxed when it comes to playing the U.S. and Ching's goal only deepened that feeling.

Actually, there was somewhat different atmosphere at the Office last night. In years gone by, most of the seats were unreserved and the fans poured in the moment the gates were opened to get the best vantage points. They would sit for hours in the baking sun (with matches usually played at noon on Sunday) and the smell of marijuana would rise above the stands.

Now, the seats are all numbered and reserved, so the crowd seemed to arrive later last night. The game was also on a weeknight and the pot smoking was less evident, either because of the strong winds dissipated the aroma or that most had to report to work the next morning.

However, unlike the hostile crowds the U.S. faces in many parts of CONCACAF, which encompasses North America, Central America and the Caribbean. the people of Jamaica treat their American visitors with warmth and friendship. U.S. manager Bruce Arena noted after last night's match, "I love to come here to play. Jamaicans love their team and support it passionately, but they are joyful about it. It's not life and death. It's a celebration of the sport. It's the way it should be."

In a number of the other countries in the region where the U.S. visits regularly, Ching's heroics would have left the American players -- and possibly fans -- worrying about getting out of the stadium in one piece. Such concerns are not necessary here. The fans were obviously disappointed, to the point one might feel sorry for them considering how much emotion that had invested in the nights and days leading up to the match. The Jamaicans were also hopeful that coming so close meant their team had turned a corner under a new coach and good things laid ahead.

Some day in the U.S., when the national team plays an important match, the whole country will be on notice and the jammed stadium will reverberate with the joy that was evident here last night. At least, one might hope.

In the meantime, win, lose or draw, a day or night at The Office is an experience American soccer fans should experience at least once.

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman.