Schafer offers new contract to coach Jamaica

Kingston (Jamaica): The man who led Cameroon to the African Nations Cup, Winifred Schafer, has been asked to stay-on as head coach of Jamaica’s national football team.

Schafer, whose original short term contract expired in October, has been asked to remain at the helm of the `Reggae Boyz` and lead them to the 2018 World Cup, reports Xinhua. Schafer was initially appointed for a four-month period in an effort to rescue Jamaica’s 2014 World Cup campaign but they finished at the bottom of the group and missed out on football`s greatest showpiece to be staged in Brazil next year. "The response from corporate Jamaica has been very encouraging," said president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Horace Burrell. “We have submitted our contract to him (Schafer), and he has said that he wants to have it properly vetted by his lawyers, which is his right." Burrell says the JFF has sought help from Corporate Jamaica to fund a long term contract for Schafer who has guided the `Reggae Boyz` in six matches -- four World Cup qualifiers and two friendlies -- amounting to three draws and three losses. "The response from corporate Jamaica has been very encouraging,” said Burrell. “We have submitted our contract to him (Schafer), and he has said that he wants to have it properly vetted by his lawyers, which is his right." However the JFF would have to wait until the New Year to know if Schafer would accept the contract. Schafer is currently in his homeland, Germany, and is expected to return to Jamaica by Jan 15. "He (Schafer) has asked for the holiday period to be with his family and have the contract reviewed,” said the JFF president.