AUDLEY BOYD, Assistant Sports Editor

HAWTHORNE, California:

Describing the players' strike action as 'normal' in the sport, Reggae Boyz head coach, Winfried Schäfer, said it is important for the players to understand that they must now fight for their country in matches at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"It is normal in football in all countries. I remember for the World Cup in Argentina, the newspaper was full of news for the national team of Germany. It is normal, the players fight for the money and the federation does what the federation can do," Schäfer said, responding to question about how the senior men's national team's strike could affect their psyche heading into the tournament.

With the issue resolved, Schäfer said: "I think what is important is the players know the JFF go to the limit (for them) and for the players (to continue to) play for Jamaica. I think (what was) very important was the last meeting with Captain.

He said, 'You have to fight for your country, Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica'."

Schäfer, who won the German Bundesliga title as a player at Karlsruher FC, coached Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations title and World Cup qualification, and was also named African Football Confederation Coach of the Year in 1992.

He recalled similar experiences he had, where players went on strike.

"It is normal. It is not the first time in my life. I saw this in Cameroon. I saw this in Togo. The last World Cup, Ghana, after Germany, but not only in football, in all team sport. The team fights the federation for money. It's normal," said Schäfer.

"It maybe the first time now in Jamaica, but we have to learn what we can do in the future. Not two days before the match, but maybe two weeks, three weeks before. I'm relaxed."

It is not the first time Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have taken such action. They last did it at the 2010 Caribbean Cup Finals in Martinique. Jamaica went on to win the championship.