SAO PAULO, Brazil — The beautiful game of football, or jogo bonito as the Brazilians call it, seemed centred around the players, coaches, managers, fans and of late, the sometimes controversial referees.
After most games at the international level, the players exchange jerseys and as a youngster, you wonder, so what is he going to wear for the next game?
And during a match when a player’s uniform is torn by an opponent or bloodied by an injury, in a split second it is replaced. Wow, you are impressed!
Well, the person responsible for fixing all of that that is usually the equipment manager. Back in the day, they used to be called the gears boys — an unflattering title.
But don’t be fooled, no modern day football outfit can survive without one. And Jamaica’s Under-17s have one from the top shelf in Dwayne ‘Bruckey’ Blake.
He is the man keeping the Young Reggae Boyz in tip-top condition in terms of their gear and equipment.
He is normally the first to rise in the mornings and last to bed. He leaves nothing broken in his quest to make everyone comfortable.
“The equipment manager plays a critical role in every team and I enjoy my job one hundred per cent,” Blake told the Observer.
Before every training session, he would make sure all the equipment necessary for the game is ready. Players’ shirts and shorts washed and ready, footballs properly inflated and refreshment available at every call — everyday.
Blake, 28, has been an equipment manager since he was 18 years old, learning his craft in the early days with Portmore United.
“I usually watch Portmore United train at GC Foster College, when I used to live at Winter Pen in Spanish Town. I saw Mr Reid at that time and I was unemployed. So I went up to him and ask him if he can help me out with a job. He replied ‘yes’ and I started the following day,” Blake explained.
Blake, who got his alias because of a limp in his walk, has seen his hard work pay off, which has culminated with 17 months with the national programme.
Blake, who is now the equipment manager at Harbour View, said: “It has been a good experience for me and it puts food on my table and help take care of my three children.”
To the people on the outside, Blake’s job may appear insignificant, but those on the inside now better. Just ask them.