Former varsity player Paul “Tegat” Davis called for the return of former head coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore.
Davis’ comments came following the resignation of Heimir Hallgrimsson on Sunday.
Whitmore won 54 matches for the national team while playing under Brazil coach Rene Simoes, who succeeded Hallgrimsson two years ago.
Hallgrimsson’s decision to step down was not entirely unexpected after his team suffered a third straight defeat on Sunday, a 3-0 loss to Venezuela in the final Copa group stage match in Austin, Texas.
Davis, who also played for Jamaica in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in France, believes Whitmore is an ideal hire because he knows the Reggae Boyz players well, some of whom began their national team careers while Davis was coach.
“We couldn’t afford not to bring back Tappa because he’s a proven player,” Davis told the Jamaica Observer on Monday. “He’s proven his worth not only with the national team but also in the local league.”
Davis argues Whitmore knows the players well and is the perfect fit for the Reggae Boyz’s return when they face Cuba, Nicaragua and home and away matches against Honduras in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Nations League in September and October.
“Thappa knows these players and while it may take some time to bring in another coach from overseas to ensure smooth continuity of the program, it will be an easy hire for him,” he said.
Whitmore, who was announced last week as head coach of Cornwall College’s D’Acosta Cup team, could not be reached for comment but recently left Mount Pleasant, the Jamaica Premier League team Davis previously coached, after his contract was not renewed.
Whitmore, who coached his alma mater, St. James High School, in the D’Acosta Cup, spent two seasons with Mount Pleasant, winning the 2022-23 JPL season and finishing as runner-up last season before losing in a penalty shootout to the Cavaliers in the final.
