Simoes: the man who transformed the Reggae Boyz

Brazilian professor Rene Simoes was the mastermind behind the Cinderella story of Jamaicas surprise qualification for the World Cup finals. Jamaica are only the third Carribean country to reach the finalsafter Haiti in 1974 and Cuba in 1938 -- and their rapid rise to prominence can be attributed largely to the qualities of their moustachioed, bespectacled, God-fearing coach. The 44-year-old, born into a family of 12 in Rio De Janeiro, took over the Reggae Boyz at the end of 1994, slowly transforming a talented but raw set of amateurs into a side capable of competing with the worlds best. Simoes came to the job with an impressive coaching record which stretches back 20 years and has included spells with Brazils Under-20 and Under-23 sides, the Saudi Arabia national side as well as posts in Portugal and the United Arab Emirates. A true citizen of the football world, Simoes was quick to understand the relative naivety of the players he inherited and promptly took them for rigorous training sessions in Brazil over a two-year period. Simoes is a committed Christianoften wearing his favourite Jesus Loves You T-shirtbut he is no soft touch as he has shown by dropping Walter Boyd, Jamaicas answer to Paul Gascoigne, for his indifferent attitude to training. Simoes became national hero in Jamaica and a national holiday was declared when the Reggae Boyz drew 0-0 with Mexico to claim the third berth from the CONCACAF qualifying group. But he insists that qualification was not the end of their ambitions and he is currently overseeing a searching, 25-match tour to get his players battle-hardened for the Finals challenge. Jamaica are in a tough group with Argentina, Croatia and Japan, but Simoes insists they will not be going along just to make up the numbers. "Were not going to France to advertise tourism, were going there to play soccer," he says.