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Thomas patiently awaits JFF's call
PAUL A REID, Observer writer Wednesday, July 12, 2006
MONTEGO BAY - Former national Under-23 captain Shavar Thomas is cautiously welcoming news that he is still in the plans of the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) technical director Wendell Downswell to play for Jamaica's senior team.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Kansas City Wizard defender says he is still waiting for the call. "I guess I'm happy that I'm being considered," he said.
Despite starting in central defence during the qualification for the 2002 World Cup, Thomas has not played for the national team in at least three years, but Downswell recently told the Observer that "the door was still open" for Thomas and others to be recalled. "He (Thomas) is one of the players who we know will form an integral part of our programme.," Downswell said over a month ago. "We have invested heavily in him. He is playing in the MLS and we have been looking at him and he will get his opportunity; the door is wide open," he added Thomas told the Observer by telephone that he and his agent, Patrick Maccade, had heard the same thing for a number of years, but the call has still not come. He said he had been in "constant contact" with members of the JFF staff, including general manager Howard Bell, but other than that there has been no contact from the JFF since he played in an Under-23 Olympic qualifier in Mexico.
Thomas, who was selected to the senior Reggae Boyz outfit by Brazilian coach Clovis deOlivera, has never played for his country at this level under Downswell's watch. He played two games with Carl Brown at the helm.
But despite his non-selection, Thomas said he never "considered that I was not a part of the team... I thought maybe the coaches chose to look at other players".
Thomas said depending on his availability from the Wizards he would make himself available to don the national colours nonetheless.
The burly defender, who played all 15 games for the Wizards this season, is in the final year of his contract, but said he is willing to stay in Kansas City if the club requires his service. "I have been here three years and loving every minute of it," he told the Observer.
The astute Thomas has played 80 games in his three years at Kansas City, starting 74 and scoring twice - both in his first season with the Wizards back in 2004.
Seen by many as a natural replacement for outstanding central defender Durrant 'Tatty' Brown in the Jamaica set-up, Thomas was drafted 10th overall by Dallas Burns in the 2003 American MLS Super Draft and appeared in 15 matches for them, including 14 starts.
Previously, he stood out during his two years at the University of Connecticut, playing in 36 matches and being named to the All-Big East first team, NSCAA/Adidas All-America second team, and the NSCAA/Adidas All-New England first teams.
He was named Connecticut's high school Player of the Year in 1999 while attending Hotchkiss Prep in Lakeville, where he also took part in track & field.
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Thomas ready for recall
BY GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor
Shavar Thomas - FILE
SHAVAR THOMAS IS anxious to return to the Reggae Boyz' fold, although the big central defender remains puzzled by his continued omission from the national football programme, especially as the senior team has conceded 16 goals in its last four internationals.
"Honestly, I could not put my hands on anything," the 25-year-old said on Monday when asked for the real reasons for his extended absence.
HEART OF DEFENCE
Thomas, who stood at the heart of the Reggae Boyz', defence in 2002 World Cup qualifiers while still a teenager, and once captained Jamaica at world youth championships, both at under-17 and under-20 levels, plus Olympic qualifiers, has not played for Jamaica since taking part in Digicel Caribbean Cup qualifiers late 2004.
Although technical director Wendell Downswell has publicly stated that the door is still open for Thomas's return, and that he is likely to be recalled, the defender has found himself on the outside of the programme looking in, and the view has not been pleasant.
DISCOURAGING
"Sometimes it was discouraging (not being selected)," Thomas said, especially since he is now a regular starter with the Kansas City Wizards of the United States Major League Soccer (MLS).
It was perplexing that Thomas was not recalled even as the Reggae Boyz' once sturdy defence has been shredded recently, starting with a 5-1 hammering by Australia in late 2005, and this year's drubbings - 4-1 by Ghana and 6-0 by England. Another goal was conceded in a draw with the U.S. in April.
A Kansas City team official confirmed on Monday that Jamaica made no request for Thomas's services for either the U.S. game or the recent two-match tour of the United Kingdom for the Ghana and England games, although the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) asked for - and received - permission to select Jermaine Hue. The midfielder played against the U.S. and England, but was recently released by the Wizards.
When pressed further for a reason he has been excluded, Thomas speculated that an incident during the 2004 Digicel qualifiers is likely to have played a role.
According to him, he was chosen for a four-team tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but was used in only one of the three games.
WRONG FRAME OF MIND
Thomas said he was disappointed and frustrated that "I was benched" and said he later explained to the team's management that he was not "in the right frame of mind conducive to perform" in the next round of qualifiers, asking not to be selected.
"I didn't understand what my position was or purpose was," he said.
A youthful Jamaica team, minus nearly all its overseas-based players, went on to win the Digicel Caribbean Cup in early 2005 and Thomas was never picked again, despite making repeated contact with JFF representatives requesting to be considered.
"I called numerous times, personally, asking if I was part of the programme or when I could get a look," he said.
Others stepped in on Thomas's behalf as well, including national team-mates and his agent, who made appeals to Downswell and the JFF for his return. The months - and games - dragged by and still the call did not come. Friendlies against Guatemala and Honduras, the Gold Cup tournament, all in the U.S. in 2005, came and went.
Thomas said he wrote a letter to JFF President Crenston Boxhill in January to explain what he had done in late 2004 and to apologise. He said he was then asked to attend a meeting with the JFF to iron out the matter. He hinted that the meeting could have been a criteria for his recall. However, it still has not happened. First, it was scheduled for the same day - Feb. 1, 2006 - Thomas said he was due to leave Jamaica to begin pre-season training with the Wizards, therefore he could not attend. Future meetings in Jamaica were not possible, Thomas said, as he is in the middle of the MLS campaign.
In April, when the Reggae Boyz visited the U.S., there was no meeting either, although some of the JFF's top officers, including Boxhill and General Secretary Burchell Gibson, along with Downswell, were present in North Carolina.
Today Thomas, who has 12 senior caps, insists he did not walk out of Jamaica's camp, as had been speculated. But he admits his decision to decline selection was wrong.
"It was a mistake on my part," he said on Monday.
One he may have been paying dearly for ever since. Yet Thomas said he continues to work hard at his game and receives constant encouragement from others, including former clubmates in Jamaica and Reggae Boyz such as Tyrone Marshall and Damani Ralph. He started in nearly all of the Wizards' games so far this season and claims he is in top shape. He believes his commitment to Jamaica should no longer be questioned.
"I think by me writing the letter, by me calling, I think I'm showing I want to play for my country," Thomas said.
"If Jamaica called tomorrow Shavar Thomas will be there (if allowed by his club)," he added later. "There's nobody prouder than me wearing the national colours."
Meanwhile, Thomas said all he can do now is focus on his immediate task as a professional - "I just control what I can control," he said - and wait for a national call-up. He is currently in the final year of a four-year MLS contract and believes his game has matured appreciably. He also brushed aside lingering suggestions that he may be too slow to compete at football's top level.
"You don't have to be the fastest player," said Thomas, who is now married. "Coming up, I think my only issue was staying fit and I'm doing that right now. I work with a fitness trainer here."
He also follows the Wizards' off-season workout programme. The recently concluded World Cup did not escape his attention either. Thomas has watched players he has competed with at many international youth tournaments - like Omar Daley and Khari Stephenson - stake claims for permanent places among the senior Reggae Boyz. He has also seen opponents from those same tournaments, and even practice games, blossom into world-recognised names. Kaka, from Brazil, Argentina's Juan Roman Riquelme and Javier Saviola, DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donavan of the U.S., come readily to mind.
He knows he belongs on their stage. He just needs another chance to show it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
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Shavar Thomas and several other foreign-based player have developed nicely into solid professional players. One of the positives of the Reggaeboyz not qualifying for Germany 2006, is that our players had time to re-establishes their club careers and grow professionally. The JFF needs to hire a coach and leader who will treat the player accordingly.
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K.C. Wizards Fire Coach Bob Gansler
By STEVE BRISENDINE AP Sports Writer
July 19, 2006, 3:01 PM EDT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Bob Gansler, the longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer history, has been fired by the Kansas City Wizards.
General manager Curt Johnson said Wednesday that he asked for Gansler's resignation after a 30-minute conversation Tuesday night. Gansler will be paid through the remainder of the season, Johnson said.
"This is a results-oriented business. I know that's a cliche, but that's the way it is," Johnson said. "We've won six times in our last 26 games and that's not acceptable."
Assistant coach Brian Bliss, who played his last professional season in Kansas City and played under Gansler at the 1990 World Cup, was named interim coach.
"Today is somewhat bittersweet, if you can use that term," he said.
Bliss, a midfielder and defender during his playing days, played for Kansas City in 1998. He joined Gansler's staff following the 1999 season, after one year as the head coach of the minor league Connecticut Wolves.
The Wizards won the 2000 MLS Cup and the 2004 U.S. Open Cup under Gansler, but slumped late and missed the playoffs in 2005. They have lost six straight to fall to 6-10-2 this season and are tied with the Chicago Fire for third place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 20 points.
Gansler, 65, was hired to replace Ron Newman after Kansas City started the 1999 season 0-7.
In 1990, the Hungarian-born coach led the United States to its first appearance in the World Cup since 1950. The U.S. has not missed a World Cup since.
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Shavar might start looking to transfer during this transfer window.
Club halt Thomas' international return
Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
The long overdue return of national defender Shavar Thomas to the national side may have to take a while longer.
Twenty-five-year-old Thomas, who last represented the country in November of 2004, was yesterday recalled to the Reggae Boyz squad to play in the first leg of a home and away series against Canada on Monday September 4. He will not take up the offer as his club, Kansas City Wizards, has 'begged' the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) not to invite him this time.
In a telephone interview with STAR Sports yesterday, Thomas confirmed that he will not make the trip to Canada.
"Basically, the club had no problem with me coming to represent the county. It is just the situation that the club is in. We are battling for a play-off position right now and a number of defenders are injured so I think the club called the JFF and begged them not to have me involved this time," Thomas explained.
"We played a game last night (Sunday), we have a game on Wednesday and we go to Los Angeles on Friday for another game, so as you can see it is a crucial time for the club with stretched resources. Because of this, I think all parties have agreed that I will stay here in the US," he added.
While he understands his club's position and their valuation of him, Thomas was a bit disappointed that his return will have to wait another month.
"I really wanted to go because it has been quite a while since I have represented the country, and I was really looking forward to it. Maybe it is just working out that the next time I put on the national colours it is in the return game in front of the home fans so maybe it was meant to be that way," Thomas said looking towards the October 8 return match.
For Thomas, who has represented the country at Under-17, Under-20, which he captained to the 2001 World Championship in Argentina, and the Under-23 before forcing his way into the senior team, the recall was recognition of his consistency.
"It is not something I wrote off. I felt that if I kept doing what I was doing then I would be recalled." he said.
"Another way I looked at it too is that even though the federation owed me nothing, based on all that they had invested in me, at some point a recall would come. Now that I am back I am optimistic about the opportunity."
Full squad: Donovan Ricketts, Fabian Dawkins, Shawn Sawyers, Teafore Bennett, Richard McCallum, Ricardo Fuller, Demar Phillips, Kevin Lamey, Damion Stewart, Shavar Thomas, Desmond Breakenridge, Shane Crawford, Fabian Davis, Jermaine Johnson, Lovel Palmer, Omar Daley, Jermaine Taylor, Jason Morrison, Xavian Virgo, Khari Stephenson, Oneil Thompson and Tyrone Sawyers.
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Wizards hire U.S. assistant Onalfo Posted: Monday November 27, 2006 5:48PM; Updated: Monday November 27, 2006 5:48PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Curt Onalfo was hired as coach of the Kansas City Wizards on Monday after spending the last four years as an assistant on the U.S. national soccer team.
Onalfo replaces Ken Fogarty and Brian Bliss, who served as interim coaches following Bob Gansler's departure in July. He inherits a team that went 10-14-8 this season, next to last in the Eastern Conference.
This will be Onalfo's first professional head coaching job. The former assistant coach with D.C. United is the Wizards' third coach. He assisted the national team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where the Americans were ousted in the first round.
"After evaluating every facet of the team and interviewing several top-notch candidates, Curt Onalfo stood out," Wizards technical director Peter Vermes said. "He is an excellent evaluator of talent, a tremendous communicator and has outstanding organizational skills."
Onalfo reached the MLS Cup final with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996 and was part of a D.C. United team that captured the MLS Cup in 1999. The former University of Virginia player was co-captain of the 1992 Olympic team in Barcelona.
"This team will play an aggressive, attack-oriented style and it will be fun to watch," Onalfo said. "The key is to not change who we are, whether we play at home or on the road. We will be hard to play at home and we need our fans to help ensure this."
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Fool fool Stew Peas aka players player and fans player of the year award leading the way for our defenders to look beyond the MLS as their salvation.
Congrats to stew peas and Claude Davis. Time fi Shavar fi fly out but his lack of speed might hurt him elsewhere, who knows his excellent sense of positioning might help offset that.
respect
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Leggo the Pearl!!! do me a beg unnu just leggo the Pearl
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Our players have made different paths to the top. Some went to Scotland(Fuller), some England(Gardner, Davis) and some Sweden(Shelton). Right now, Shavar does not have the neccesary national team CAPS to play in the UK, so he needs to try elsewhere.
I am not a fan of Shavar. He has alot of physical attribute of a quality defender but doesnt have the desire. At times is is excellent but his lack of consistency and crucial mistakes will always hurt him. His has a good touch maybe he should start playing a Viera Type game. Him and Khari would not be a bad combo. 6' 4" Khari and 6' 3" Shavar it would be hell of earth for opposing teams. As a defender he is not that good, but maybe Bora put him in a M position. "Back2Africa" looking good.
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NO MORE AUSTIN NO MORE ONEIL NO MORE WORTHLESS BALLA FI REAL
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Los Angeles Galaxy acquire defender Thomas from Kansas City Los Angeles Galaxy Media Relations Buy Tickets! Shavar Thomas has joined Los Angeles after a trade with Kansas City. Shavar Thomas has joined Los Angeles after a trade with Kansas City. (Eric Schlueter/MLS/WireImage.com) CARSON, Calif. - The Los Angeles Galaxy have acquired defender Shavar Thomas from the Kansas City Wizards in exchange for a conditional second round pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. The Jamaican international and four-year MLS veteran center back comes to the Galaxy after spending the last three years with the Kansas City Wizards. The Galaxy currently have three picks in the second round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. Kansas City will now receive L.A.'s final pick in that round.
Thomas was originally drafted by the Dallas Burn in the first round (10th overall) of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, playing in 15 games as a rookie for Dallas before being traded to Kansas City at the end of the 2003 campaign. In three years with the Wizards, Thomas played in 76 games, starting 70, primarily as a center back. In 91 career MLS regular season games, he has three goals and one assist, with the last of his three goals coming against the Galaxy on Sept. 2, 2006.
Thomas is a veteran of the Jamaican National Team where he has often partnered his new teammate Tyrone Marshall in central defense. Thomas made his National Team debut in 1999 and has earned 12 caps with the full National Team while also representing Jamaica at every youth level.
Prior to coming to MLS, Thomas played two years at the University of Connecticut, helping the Huskies compile a 32-11-2 record during his two years with the team. Thomas appeared in 36 of those games, missing nine games while helping the Jamaican National Team in its attempt to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. As a sophomore in 2002, Thomas was named to the All-Big East and NSCAA All-New England First Team and was a second team All-American
