There's more some former players can do for Jamaica football with a little effort.
Here's an idea; John Barnes & Robbie Earle have said they would do anything for JA football. They both have a certain level of influence in UK football, the media, as former team mates.
The JFF need help -whether they ask for it, or admit to it or not- in convincing certain marque players in the UK presently. I'm saying this blindly because I don't know if presently they are using Barnes tremendous clout to their advantage. I'm assuming they are not so I'm making this statement.
Take Danny Sturridge for eg; I believe more pressure would be applied to his decision to play for England if say he had a face to face with influential former players. Not saying he would turn England down; however if through the JFF they on a part time basis hire Barnes, Earle, Fuller, Bibi some of the other retired players of influence, as the JFF Liaison in the UK, maybe a plan of action can be worked out in targeting key EPL ballaz.
Maybe it's not feasible at this time for any to physically do anything because of business commitments; but with technology nowadays things can get done without being physically involved anyway.
Even if nothing can be done in this sense, dialogue on the other hand can be useful as well. If former players establish some kind of dialogue among themselves who knows what may become of it.
Take this site – thereggaeboyz - all that is taking place on this site is talk. However all this talk has gone a long way. I believe if we the fans had not done our own research and find all these players, the JFF would have known little about many of them.
The list of players the JFF have in their possession came from a list we sent to the news media in JA, and they wrote an article about it and sent the list to the JFF. That list had Nathan Smith & Elliot on it, two players they have already called. Among other things we are seeing that they have enacted that they have gotten directly or indirectly from the R'Boyz site.
What I'm saying is this, a dialogue should start among former players, especially the UK ones, and some from over here. Everyone has weaknesses and strengths, people know important people others don't know, and vice versa.
It makes sense that former players begin some kind of correspondence, with a goal in mind of how they can assist the JFF in attracting the very best players the UK has to offer.
Let’s be reminded of our treasure in England; count them, Jamaican heritage players that are either currently playing for England or in their pool:
Theo Walcott Ashley Young Daniel Sturridge Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain (Capello just say he may be a part of EURO 2012 team) Darren Bent Aaron Lennon Scott Sinclair (Capello said he's watching him)
We're about to lose two more gifted players in -Chamberlain & Sinclair without any kind of challenge to English FA. And there's another handful coming through the ranks at present.
Again I'm not saying any marque player will be swayed by anyone, but if the idea of a contingency of former R'boyz players, whether meeting the recruits face to face or via social media, doing it in an organize way as oppose to individual contact, it may very well impress upon them the serious and professionalism of our FA. And this may in turn work out eventually in our favor.
We have seen how France has complained how they have nurtured these African & some European descent players and they declared for their heritage nations. Even though France has its fair share of them. . No doubt that these African nations FA working behind the scenes dealing with these players, challenging them to represent their mother country and it worked. Who say it can work for us too.
Right Now I believe that Junior Hoilett is on the brink. Burrell speaking with his Dad who was surprise & glad to receive a call from Burrell said he would speak to his son.
Now, what if former players having some form of organization and with technology set up a live skype with Hoilett, or telephone conferencing, not to force him against his will or disrespect whatever decision he makes, but just to let him know how much it would mean to Jamaica land of his father, and mean to our chances of getting to Brazil if he was pulling the strings in our midfield. I do believe that something like this could tip him over the edge.
Scott Sinclair on the other hand as gifted a player he is the competition is so deep in England on the wings, that unless he starts scoring are provide some noticeable assist the wait could be long. We know he won't give up that chance that easily for England, but we need someone like a Barnes in his ear from now. We won't know till we try.
It would be good if at least former player start a dialogue just to see where each other’s head is at in regards to idea of helping the JFF to convince top ballaz who may be considering England.
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Technic, I read an article about a year or so ago where Theo and his mom said he was of Jamaican heritage not Barbadian. The article could have been bunk ...but..
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England's teenaged star Walcott linked to Jamaica Inside Germany 2006 CMC Sunday, June 11, 2006
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - Arsenal and England's teenaged prodigy Theo Walcott has Jamaican heritage, the player's mother has indicated.
Originally it was reported that Walcott had links to Barbados and was related to West Indies cricket legend Sir Clyde Walcott. The early debate surrounded the country of his grandfather and grandmother. But the 17-year-old's mother Lynn said the player was not related to Sir Clyde, as both grandparents were from Jamaica. "They never said they were from Barbados," Lynn, a British-born midwife who is married to Don Walcott, a second generation Jamaican, said recently.
"They are from Jamaica. I always knew my husband's family was from Jamaica. All the brothers and sisters have been back to Jamaica except Don." Wendell Walcott, Theo's grandfather, moved to England from Jamaica in the 1950s.
Don, a former RAF officer, has one older brother Jimmy and three sisters Yvonne, Yvette and Jennifer. Like most families from the Caribbean, they remain very close and Theo is in constant contact with his cousins. Theo was born in London, but the family moved to Compton when he was 10.
Theo and his father moved from Compton back to London when he signed with Arsenal. Lynn said she was extremely proud of Theo's achievements in his brief career.
"A lot of attention is being showered on Theo and I'm extremely delighted for him," she noted.
"But he will always be my little baby. I've got three lovely children and Theo is the last, so he's the baby. He's a special boy and has the love of his entire family. His dad, Don has been by his side throughout, and everyone is totally excited and thrilled."
Lynn said she always had high hopes for Theo and knew some day he would make it to the top of the footballing ladder. Like many others, she however did not believe it could happen this fast.
"People have always told us that he had the talent. He always said he wanted to play in the World Cup and from when he was a little boy I always believed he had it in him. But my goodness, we never thought he would be so soon," she revealed. "Theo always spoke about making it to the World Cup. The world will see what he has to offer I'm sure. He's a very calm individual, very measured and has an old head on his young shoulders.
She added: "This was his ultimate dream, and it looks like he's fulfilled his dream. I guess he needs a new dream, now. But he's a dreamer and he has high ambitions, which he learned from his family."
Theo did not play on Saturday in England's 1-0 victory over Paraguay, their opening World Cup game. If he had, he would have created history by becoming the second youngest player ever in a World Cup, at age 17 years, 87 days - 45 days older than all-time record holder Norman Whiteside. Should he score in the tournament, he will be the youngest ever goal-scorer, beating Pele's record of 17 years and 239 days.
English football is now di ongly national institution inna alla Hengland weh standing 'gainst the racial prejudice dat beginning to plague di streets of Britain again...racial warfare soon out fi break out inna Hengland again...trust di Ric wen im tell unnu so.
Jamaica hav di power to mediate dis ting....at least for a while.
Di JFF fi deal wid di man dem inna Hengland pon di football level.
U no see sey di Henglish FA hafi run weh dem big captain John Terry fi racial abuse....now 3/4 of all black players inna Hengland are of Jamaican heritage an Jamaica is known as a world champion fi black rites...zeen?
Now di JFF fi rope een alla di big Jamaican names inna English football....and start recruit di Jamaican heritage yutes...mek di English FA now hafi fight fi dem...cause wah...dem nah go wan play fi NO Hengland side weh have any question bout dem race or national origin...
DI BWOY JOHN TERRY...DI LIKKLE RACIST FASSYHOLE HAS DONE JAMAICAN FOOTBALL A MASSIVE FAVOUR!
Unnu no see it ?
Is now fi di JFF fi tek advantage because now...no big Jamaican-heritage balla a go waan play fi Hengland under dees conditions...an di Italian bwoy Capello soon lef...
Trust mi...di racial ting wha a gwaan right now will have alla di big name dem...Sinclair, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hoilett...whoever...willing to don a Jamaican jersey...jus fi dis a bwoy name JOHN TERRY.
Unnu fi understand how dis ting a run inna Hengland right now...an di JFF fi tek full advantage.
Half a di Henglish white gal dem don wid a Yard yute aredy...
An Usain an di crew dey inna Birmingham fi Olympics 2012...
Now is the time when the JFF fi strike di iron wen it HOT...u no zee it ?
Beleive me, if the JFF was really in tune right now...you would see some MASSIVE football names in a Jamaican jersey...THANKS TO JOHN TERRY!
Di ites pon dis forum don't have a clue as to what JOHN TERRY BEING STRIPPED OF THE ENGLAND CAPTAINCY means to all black footballers, and Jamaican-heritage footballers, in England. Its a real pity seh Captain Horace Burrell neva hav di foresight to see how to use JOHN BARNES in the bigger scheme of things...
I truly hope that he wises up quickly...
Marlon King a gwaan most terrible mi a tell unnu...is a most outa orda an disagreeeable bwoy u know !!!
Is dem tegi reg dey Jamaica need now wearing a Jamaica jersey...trust mi!
