The next generation of Jamaican football talent received an unforgettable lesson in perseverance and excellence recently when René Simões, iconic former coach of the 1998 Reggae Boyz team, visited Dacosta Cup champions Garvey Maceo High as part of his book launch for ‘The Impossible Dream‘.

The special event, organised by the JWN Foundation, brought the legendary Brazilian tactician face-to-face with members of the school’s boys and girls football teams, who have been making impressive strides in local football competitions this past season.

Simões, who famously led Jamaica to its historic first and only World Cup qualification in 1998, shared invaluable insights from his coaching career and the philosophy that helped transform Jamaican football onto the global stage.

His visit to Garvey Maceo represents more than just a book promotion – it symbolises the continuing influence of his revolutionary approach to developing football talent in Jamaica.

“What coach Simões accomplished with our national team remains one of the greatest achievements in Jamaican sports history,” said Jean-Philippe Beyer, chairman of the JWN Foundation.

“Bringing him to interact with these young athletes at Garvey Maceo creates a powerful connection between generations and reinforces our commitment to youth sports development in our communities, building on the work that our parent company JWN Limited has done through the sponsorship of the Jamaica Premier League, KSAFA and the Jamaica Football Federation,” he shared.

During his motivational session, Simões emphasised the importance of the ‘5Ds’: Discipline, dedication, determination, desire and decision – the same principles that guided his coaching philosophy during Jamaica’s remarkable World Cup qualification campaign.

He encouraged the student-athletes to pursue excellence in life both on and off the field.

“I was born in a poor place called a ghetto, or a favela in Brazil. My life was not a rich life because I grew up with 11 other siblings and we didn’t have much. Most of my friends went to prison or died because they decided to move in the wrong way, but I decided to move in the right way. I decided that I wanted to be someone in life, and I don’t know where you were born, but you have the opportunity to do better, Simões told the attentive young players.”

He continued, “Talent is just the beginning. But, if you follow the ‘5Ds’ like the Reggae Boyz did leading up to the 2018 World Cup you will be successful.” he ended, after which he demonstrated a short and interactive practical approach to highlight ‘desire’ and ‘decision’.

The visit held special significance for the rural football champions Garvey Maceo’s football programme, which has been working to build a competitive tradition in school competitions.

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams had the opportunity to ask questions about training methods, tactical approaches, and mental preparation for high-stakes matches.

Each student-athlete received a signed copy of ‘The Impossible Dream‘, which chronicles Simões’s journey with the Jamaican national team and the challenges they overcame to reach football’s biggest stage.

“The book serves as both a historical account of that achievement and a blueprint for future success,” Simões shared. “It is for the future generation.”

The initiative aligns the JWN Foundation with its ongoing commitment to community development through cultural expression and education.

By connecting young athletes with iconic sports figures like Simões, the foundation aims to inspire the next generation of Jamaican sporting talent.

“These students are at a critical age where mentorship can make all the difference,” mused the foundation chairman.

“Having Coach Simões share his experience and wisdom directly with these young student-athletes creates an indelible impression that we hope will fuel their athletic and personal development for years to come,” Beyer ended.