I took this article off one of "de Boyz" website, and would appreciate some feedback from you guys.
Paul hall, one of the original Jamaican football "Reggae Boyz" from England' said he has ended his international career. Hall's decision Tuesday followed closely that of midfielder Fitzroy Simpson who quitin July after a fall out with new technical director Clovis de Olivera and Marcus Gayle. Hall's decision to say to Jamaica was prompted by a new tactic in the CLUB VERSUS COUNTRY dilemna which Jamaica now face.... After coming to the end of a contract with English club Walsall last season, Hall was available to sign with any club. But hall said clubs backed off as soon as he outlined his interest to continue playing for Jamaica. "At the end of last all the teams tha I was getting involved with asked if I would be playing for the national team. When I said yes, they said they could not be interested because I would be away for a good part of the campaign," Hall said. "That is howit is now they do not want you flying half way around the world. Gradually the standard of the teams that would consider me were getting lower. I was looking at the top of the First Division and Premier League teams initially then after the international they just backed out."
The argument Hall, 28, said the clubs gave was that they could not consider him because he would be away for a good part of the campaign so it would be better for them to get someone else who would be there the entire time. "Under the BOsman ruling they said there are 500 hundred players like yourself who will not be called up for international duties by their countries and though we appreciate that you are a good player, we could go in and get one of them.
"so I was left in a situation and I had to take a stand and said I would not be playing for the national team again so I could say that I have retired," he continued. Hall, who has played close to 40 games for Jamaica and has 13 goals, said that he will not be tempted out of retirement. "If I did answer a call I would lose my place. Another guy Darren Warck who just came from Derby and is very good would have stepped right into my place. It would be hard for me to get someone like that out and the manager believes in me."
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13 Goals!!!! I did not know that he scored so many goals for Jamaica. Anyway, I understand his situation (which is unfair) and wish him all the best. I heard that he is married to a Jamaican beauty queen and that they recently have a baby so he needs to find some work.
Lets Do a UB40 roll call:
1. Robbie Earl - retired 2. Marcus Galye - retired 3. Pall Hall - retired 4. Fitzroy Simpson - retired 5. David Johnson - waiting on call from England 6. Michael Johnson - Fired 7. Frank Sinclair - Injuried 8. Deon Burton - committed 9. Daryl Powell - committed 10 Darren Moore - unsure 11 Jamie Lawrence - ???????
The mentality in England with regards to players from Non-UEFA countries is very sickening.This is one of the reasons why England will never win a major competiton until they change their attitude towards these small countries.I hope that Paul does well an hopefully who knows can make a come back in the future.Of concern though,the English press should get it facts correct. When did Hall score 13 goals for Jamaica.
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FORMER national representative Paul Hall said he is still very supportive of Jamaica's football programme despite his retirement.
The 28-year-old, who played a key role in the country's qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France, said his retirement in no way ends his relationship with the country.
"Every time Jamaica plays a game I know the result. I know what is going on and I am always there with the guys," Hall said.
"I hear Onandi (Lowe) is doing really well and that Deon (Burton) is doing okay which is something I really want to see. The team is going on and it seems as if they are doing okay," Hall said about Jamaica's performance in the 2002 World Cup qualifications.
What most occupies Hall's mind right now is to re-establish himself as a footballer of note and get back into the English Premier League.
After the World Cup, Hall had his long-time dream of playing in the Premniership come true when he was signed by Coventry City.
That dream soon turned into a nightmare as he found himself frozen out of the first team by manager Gordon Strachan. To get first team football the player who began his career in the Third Division with Torquay United, found himself on long spells with Bury, Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion and Walsall, all First Division teams before settling with Walsall.
Despite a good run at the end of last season where he scored six goals in 10 starts, the team was relegated. He re-signed with the club with the intention of working his way back to the top.
"I still believe I can make the step up which is why I am playing so much good football right now because every game for me now is very important," he said.
"It is personal ambition which drives me now, not money. At the end of the day money is money and I have to look after my family, don't get me wrong. I want to play in the Premiership and I want to make it back there and there is no way that Gorrdon Strachan is going to convince me that I am not good enough."
At Walsall thus far, Hall has played in all the club's pre-season games and has assisted on three goals in two matches since the season started, helping them to joint first place in the Second Division.
"It is going on okay. I played in both games, I played the whole pre-season and played in both games. Last season I played 10 games towards the end of the season and scored six goals. Right now I am playing back on the right wing."
Is there a dangerous trend building here, or is it just me being paranoid? Should we be worried or will it pass? Has it happened to other countries?
Lately a number of Jamaican footballers are being asked to choose club over Country and in my opinion this is cause for concern. It is the dream of every player to be able to play at a higher level, but at what price. Should they have to make a sacrifice?
A lot of domestic Clubs and even some National federations has invested a lot of time and money into players to make them more marketable to overseas clubs. This was seen as a good way for the players to gain invaluable experience and for them to become true professionals. This plan however may backfire into some faces, namely Jamaica’s.
First it was Fitzroy Simpson and Paul Hall, who both lost their starting places at Portsmouth because of representing Jamaica. Then we were told how Boyd’s agent had told Swansea that Boyd would not be considered to play for Jamaica again. Was that why he was signed? Currently Darren Moore is faced with the same ‘us or them’ ultimatum. Can you imagine a club offering a player a record salary just to entice him into retiring from international duties? Shouldn’t there be a law against that?
Now in the interest of his future and his ability to earn a living, Paul Hall has decided to give up further Reggae Boyz representation. Based on the report now posted on this website his hand was literally forced to make the decision as he was finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable employment because he plays for Jamaica.
Based on this “Dump Jamaica Fever” it is not far fetched to hear Ricardo Fuller, Theodore Whitmore, Ricardo Gardener, Walter Boyd or any other ‘National’, being forced to do the same, especially when offered a move to a higher Club or League.
This argument about ‘jetting off’ or club paying salaries is not good enough a reason for clubs to make such demands from players. If it were up to some clubs there would be no international soccer. What if domestic clubs did the same when players receive first time call-ups to national teams? Why aren’t Wanchope and other CONCACAF players being asked to give up the same? Is it a Jamaican fever?
FIFA has played their part in finding some form of equilibrium for the club-country war. If they have a problem they should take it up with FIFA, not blackmail players.
A lot of these clubs first saw the players while they were performing international duties, so why the turn-a-round. It might seem irrelevant to Jamaicans now as most if not all of the players involved live abroad, but, do we just wait and see, or should the JFF step up and speak? Is it because we feel we don’t need the players involved so far?
There are lots of rumors floating around as to how is it possible for Boyd to sustain an injury which required some many stitches to his heal, but was able to play ninety minutes of soccer within approximately ten days and do so well. Some say he was forced to fake the injury by Swansea. My take is that Coach Oliviera is no fool and of all the injuries to fake……………..!!!! The things that people say.
Could it be a well worked out plan? How would it look if England fails to Qualify for the World Cup, while a bunch of black 2nd and 3rd Division players are parading in Japan in 2002? A member of the Reggae Boyz Support Club website discussion forum (www.reggaeboyzsc.com), Ohene, had this to say, “Ask your self what it is that England fear?? How comes Clovis goes to watch an Ipswich game and one day later Titus Bramble gets a call to the U21 England squad. Clovis and the JFF are known to be interested in recruiting a left back and Ashley Ward is the key candidate and he is given a first England U21 call up? Amazing?? Villa striker Darius Vassel of Jamaican descent is also called up for a debut”. It might be a coincidence but……………. You decide.
You think is lie. Them don't like the fact that we are benefitting from players (jamaican or of jamaican parentage) over there that them normally wouldn't be so quick to call up.
It don't matter... I wish well all the players that Jamaica was considering which have been called up by england. I welcome any opportunity for my brothers to advance...be it with Jamaica or with England. I'm happy to know that Jamaica is in a position to weigh in and help its people and their progeny advance. In this case, in football. I only hope that they are not made to languish on the sidelines after being called up for service in one game. It wouldn't surprise me. Call them for one game so they can't play for anyone else and then leave them to sit around.
Good luck everyone ShaggyBear
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Shaggybear, None of this is suprising, the English mus vex to see Jamaica in the World Cup. This is same nation that enslaved us for over 400 years, they will do anything by any means neccesary to see Jamaica fail. I feel sorry for the players because they need to make a living. This is why I strongly encourage Jamaican players to look elsewhere(France, Holland, Japan or $$$), besides the UK, you just cannot trust those clubs/people. The day Jamaica beats England, World War III will start.
Thats right 13 . I am always amazed how some waagonist speak badly about Hall and just forget about him being the leading scorer in Shell Cup in his first games for Jamaica, around 6, first game in Jamaica 2 goals , goal in Iran , goal in El Salvador , 2 goals in the Gold Cup.
This situation is happening throughout Europe, not just England.
A German club said it would rather pay the imposed fine from FIFA for not releasing a player for international duty than let go a Nigerian player to represent his nation in the Olympics in Sydney.
But it seems that only the impact players on the respective clubs can get away with playing internationally, although they still come under pressure from their clubs, while the marginal ones (Paul Hall for e.g.) are told if you leave we can find someone who can easily replace you.
No Jamatl..Dont go there...Arsenal want Kanu to sell-out...Never...The manager of my number one favorite club arsenal,Mr wenger is a french man...Majority or half if u count the 2nd team is foreigners....Running a club is nothing more than business...Of course there will always be the unscrupulous ones who integrate politricks,discrimination,favoritism,scandals etc,etc...but it is business as the priority...U have to understand that to compete in todays premiership is millions of pounds....Operating costs that far exceed those of the next division..1st div..Our office is the size of thier medium sized stadiums..They command or would like to have sell-out crowds week in week out...So one method of achieving this is to not only have quality players but players who people will come to watch...Only whitmore of Ja has done this when we played Japan..A winning team and celebrities...Thats business...incorporated with the game is why some of our guys get a chance...So if me a go pay a man nuff monies fi work fi me..mi nuh must run tings..have him at my disposals..Why should I pay for something I dont get the use of...
so the problem develops as european imports have it easy in england cause thier international games coincide with the british season..so is this discrimination against us???... Well thier is to me not so much discrimination but the usual suspect...respect...a lack of it...Costa Rican star Wanchope was praised for his hatrick by Man. City manager Royle but in the same breath cussed for spending so much time on international duty..quote.."a wonderful player but we hardly see him,as he is mostly away playing internationals for some small central american team.." but in the same way all managers praise the brazilian players to the max(even if they have never played for the national team)They wouldn't mutter a word if they had to release them(probably bcoz if you had a brazilian in your team u must have monies) So should we be cussing the British...Well personally the British would try to hold back anyone..even thier own...So Shaggy and Jamatl..I agree with that,but I cant flaw them on trying to run thier shit...Who I can blame is the JFF...And it appears that the JFF themselves havn't a clue of what thier job entails..Surely that is a job for Super Burrell....Is not the constant calls for our football programmes progression point to some of the reasons partly to blame..No development,constant waste of monies(not a lack of money as some people may think),mis-management,no vision....U cant blame the white man for grabbing the boys for the U21 team,thats the white mans way...They always want good athletes until they can create thier own..They are a people that complain that thier are too many foreigners in their game but still cant accept that this has improved thier players performance...How long has the JFF known about those kids...Why is it that the coach had to go scouting for new players??? How much people work for the JFF??? Damn...They always ina de coach business but thier own... There must be some reason why these young so called Jamaicans rather play for England than Jamaica...I'm pretty certain one reason will be the JFF....I wonder what the choice would be if people like Burton,powell,Sinclair,Simpson etc had to choose between playing for England or Jamaica....(I wonder how many players are playing coz they love Jam Rock or is it jus to get notice..but thats another story)
But yu right my friends it is a problem our exported players and overseas based but I am sure the JFF can help!!!
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jt, I will agree with you that the clubs need to run a successful business. I personally enjoy watching Arsenal, so nothing against the club or the manager. But there is a lack of respect towards the small CONCACAF nations. I until our players reach the status of maybe Dwight Yorke, they will continue to have difficulties with international play, I hope the new fifa calender resolves the problem.
Respect JT. I am not saying that I don't understand the owners' perspective. I have always understood their perspective as you correctly outlined it. What I am saying is that I can't swear by their motivations. From what I have seen and learned, YOU CANNOT TRUST THOSE PEOPLE.
Some of them (a lot), from what I've seen and experienced --even here in the U.S.-- act out of selfishness, jealousy, greed and a wish to keep a black man in him place. Some would take measures with little care for what the player wants simply because the player is black. In that manner affording the player very little respect. Disrespect and discrimination go hand in hand. In the same breath that the owner is keepimg a man in his place by depriving him of the esteem of playing or his country, he is pulling the rug from under that "ridiculous, amateurish, insignificant sideshow called the reggaeboyz." You think many of those Europeans dont think that. I refer you to comments from those such as that @%#$^%$@ Carlo Maldini (if is so him name) who said something to the effect that the boyz were a joke and didn't belong in the WC '98. Don't trust the Argentinians either, more Europeans in South America.
I'm not wronging Europeans, or even white people generally, despite all the wrong they have done to my people (and others). My girlfriend is a white German (I spread propaganda everywhere) and I judge people as they come. I have seen a lot and that kind of selfish racist mentality of oppression has not been uprooted, it still exists in EVERY account. You were in U.K., so you must notice how black people over there don't have no REAL job. Civil servant business. You can't miss it
So while there are the legitimate concerns the owner may have for his club, I believe that often in these situations where we are seeing ultimatums handed down, or where reggaeboyz-eligible players are tagged for duty by England, there is often a greater mechanism at work than is evident, particularly (and more likely) in the cases of these ultimatum offers to play.
I support the view that our players should explore playing in other countries. It doesn't mean they won't experience the racism. I lived in France for 8 months and in Holland for 3 - believe me it's there. But I think that not only will it relieve our players of their dependency on England (when you are dependent on someone you subject yourself to all kind of crap), but it will possibly expose them to a style of play more compatible to that of the reggaeboyz -- less long ball, and it will possibly also put them in a position where playing for your national side will be tolerated more as it is more common. Leagues in those other countries full up of foreigner. True nuff of them might be a step above Paul Hall, but their sheer numbers might create the right environment.
Don't watch Germany. Germany and England may have fought wars, but they are the same. Remember Anglo-Saxons refers to Angles (Probably Germanic but long time on the isles) and Saxons (A germanic tribe), No difference betwen UK and germany. The whole a them racist. The rest of Europe too but that's a whole nother argument. You notice Germany would a never have a black man pon them national side. They won't even give citizenship to people who born there(talk to any Turk). Them can worse than the British!!!
Finally,
Reasons abound for some of those players to choose England over JA. For some of them it's because --despite JA parents-- that's where them born and raised. Another reason is England (Europe) is a bigger show. True, no show better than the reggae boyz, but when you talking about England is world political power England who have them nig premiership league (even though england has had issues with the success in the world cup) and if you play for them..damn! So I wouldn't wrong them for that.
All that is kind of besides the point.
I'm not saying it does not occur, but I have not heard of these issues so much with white players. It is my feeling that disrespect/racist mentality and the success of the ReggaeBoyz has made brought this issue to bear.
Like I said, I don't mind them being selected by the English national side, just as long as it was not a likkle shadow move. If you going to select them, play them.
This post so long I couldnt look at the whole ting to see if it make any sense. So if it doesn't nuh mine. :0)
Auf wiedersehen. (I saw your post a while back jt)
Shaggy
By the way jt. If you need to know how to tell one of them that them have nice bosom just let me know. heh heh
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Now it's Paul Hall... and I think that he won't be the last one who will stop playing for the Boyz for that reason. It's always the same: no powerful European will respect nations like Jamaica unless he is forced to do it. Shaggybear, I think Germany is much worse than the U.K. I have got a black classmate, and ( not only through him ) I must notice again and again: Germany's ( especially in the former GDR ) streets are not safe for black people, foreigners or handicapped people. But, to turn back to football: I agree that something must be done against this problem. I think a new FIFA calendar could help. Stricter laws would help if a player already HAS a club, but they couldn't help these players to FIND a new one. How shall you proove that they didn't offer him a contract because he's a national player. Let's hope that a solution for this problem can be found.
Well Shaggy...all them points you touch I wasn't sure if I should touch,so I opted to provoke in a general way...but trust mi shaggy I am feeling them vibes..Nuff love brethren...I know the under the scenes stuff that gwaan.I know...The likkle ways the whites especially undermine everyone..I know..Germany..A place I only see on TV...Mi nuh want go deh..cause I know seh di wicked like even though I too try to judge individually....The queen herself have german blood...Do u find any conflicks being with a german woman?? My main squeeze,black british,and trust me them black british have thier problems too,say mi too racists,but I prefer too think I am pro-black.
But back to the argument...thats why I say this is a job for Super Burell and the JFF..Rumour has it that he is supposed to be complaining to fifa about this problem...Some people think maybe a system of pay per play but I think them Europeans would find a loop hole round that also, but seems the right direction...The JFF now surely must see that this is business and thus create a professional and business-like atmosphere around its daily activities....(someone told me a story the other day,dont know how true but apparently the jff got a 60% increase in profits after placing JDF personnel at the turnstiles of the stadium instead of civilians in one of the games...But even with the monies the deal they got with the car company they could of made mo monies...Maybe more incentives and professionalism on Jamaica's side,especially from the JFF and the government would be a positivity...
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jt, shaggybear and all, I think everyone now understand the situation with the boyz. I am not against the boyz playing in England, we just cannot create a dependency. As shaggybear stated playing only in any one country will lead to mistreatment.
This is a new trend in football and obviously does not only affect Jamaican players. Clearly FIFA needs to step in and develope a players' list/bill of rights. These clubs are holding players hostage to the detriment of their national teams. If this trend continues it will degrade the world cup's stature.
The other unnerving thing is that you would never see a player lime Mike Owen asked not to play for England by any English team but they do it other foriegn players. The same is true of German and all other clubs that has this policy. THIS CLEARLY HAS CONFLICT OF INTEREST IMPLICATIONS AND FIFA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND RULE ON THIS.
and if you play for them..damn! So I wouldn't wrong them for that.
