FRANCE: DIJON: JAMAICAN SOCCER TEAM ARRIVES FOR WORLD CUP

(9 Jun 1998) Eng/French/Nat
The Reggae Boyz - as they are known- are nothing less than flamboyant.
But they're not a theatrical act, they're the Jamaican national soccer (football) team - in France to represent their country at this year's World Cup.
The team arrived in France on Tuesday to a warm welcome.
Arc-en-barrois in France is a tiny village of just 13-thousand people 200 kilometres South East of Paris.
On Tuesday it welcomed the Jamaican squad.
The Reggae Boyz - as they are known- have attracted fans and supporters from all around the world and it was feared their flamboyant style would be just too much for this tiny French village.
But there was nothing to worry about.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"I think they are wonderful, they are just how I imagined them to be noisy yet colourful and it's wonderful that they are staying in our little town."
SUPER CAPTION: Claudine Thomas, Deputy Major
Security in the Jamaican hotel is very relaxed and mirrors the squads approach towards the World Cup.
They even held a training session open to the public and hundreds of locals turned out to watch them.
The Jamaican squad is made up of both British and Jamaican born players such as Marcus Gayle who played for premiership club Wimbledon and Walter Boyd who grew up in the ghetto of Kingston.
Another British player Robbie Earle - team mate of Marcus Gayle denied the rumours that there was resentment from the Jamaicans that there were English players in the team.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Yea it's slightly different from football in England it's not so structured it's a little bit more relaxed we have a laugh and a joke and there is a lot of camaraderie and that's been important the chemistry and the composition and lot of people have tried to say that the English players haven't mixed, but as you have seen today we are very much part of things we are a team come what may, there are 22 of us and we are all aiming for the same thing."
SUPER CAPTION: Robbie Earle, player
Brazilian coach Rene Simoes is the man responsible for guiding the Reggae Boyz to France.
Aged 45 he has spent more than 20 years as a professional coach.
His greatest achievement to date was to turn an inexperienced Jamaican team into one capable of qualifying for the world cup finals.
Despite his success he has decided to stand down as coach after the world cup finals and hand over to assistant coach Carl Brown.
Brown acknowledges that his contribution to Jamaican football over the past three years has been invaluable.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"He has bought a whole lot, his professionalism is the first thing that he bought to us and the infrastructure we needed a good field and he has been emphasising that since he came - he has been emphasising the need for financial support to provide for the players things to motivate them."
SUPER CAPTION: Carl Brown, assistant coach
Many commentators feel that Jamaica will be the whipping boys at this years World Cup, but like Cameroon in Italia 90 when they beat Argentina 1-0, Jamaica looks forward to creating a few surprises in their group.
The team will face Croatia and Argentina, but if they are to qualify for the next stage they must win against Japan the other under dogs of this huge event.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Not too much we've played South Korea recently and they play a similar style - the philosophy of their football is the same, we know they (Japan) are a counter attacking team that want to hit us on the break so we need to defend well and penetrate their weak spots."
SOUNDBITE: (English)
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[@RbizMufc]

Need a full version of this please?

[@CR-pw9il]

'98 What a time... Glad i was around to witness this even tho i was only 11

[@kevsmith6783]

Jamaica has a big influence in the world from the music and football since known from 1998...alot of ppl of color in the US start watching or playing the game because of this team...Jamaica are ambassadors to the world for just that alone

[@shaundawkins3857]

Jesus will provide for the reggae boyz

[@NeryElsalvador]

can jam hit to elswlvador score?

[@mikemack5612]

Mr bell