Gordon Williams | Jamaica Star
Former Chelsea Manager Avram Grant has paid high tribute to Peter Cargill, crediting the late national player and coach for not just on-field talent, but his role in promoting Jamaica’s football.
Grant first met Cargill when he was a professional player in Israel, the coach’s home country. The two, who lived close to each other near Tel Aviv, became friends although the midfielder/defender never played for Grant. The opposing coach said he was impressed by the popular Cargill’s talent, demeanour and passion for Jamaica.
“Firstly, every Israeli player knows Peter Cargill, you know; (they) remember him,” said Grant, while here as a World Cup television broadcaster during the match between Germany and Portugal on June 16. “I know …; (he) played in Israel and we were in a good relationship. He was a good player, (and) by the way, very (a) intelligent player.”
Known locally as ‘Jair’, Cargill was a veteran of Jamaica’s successful 1998 World Cup qualifying campaign. He also played at the World Cup in France. But in 2005, an automobile accident ended his life at age 41.
Grant described Cargill as serious, but one who understood the game and was fun too. When he died, the Jamaican family and football fraternity weren’t alone in mourning.
“We always laughed that (Cargill) could play until 60,” said Grant. “It is very sad that he died. Everybody loved him (in Israel).”
Grant also credited the former Camperdown High, Swallowfield, Harbour View, CC Lions and Port Morant United star with alerting him to football talent in Jamaica during his eight-year career at Israeli clubs Maccabi Netanya and Hapoel Petah Tikva.
“(Cargill) told me a lot of things about Jamaica,” he explained. “He told me that there is major talent there, but they needed to develop it better.”
keen attention
Cargill also urged him to visit Jamaica to assist.
“He always asked me to come and speak with the coaches,” said Grant. “He really cared very much about Jamaican football.”
Cargill’s insistence may have led to Grant’s keener attention to the Caribbean, North and Central American region when he took over at Chelsea in 2007.
“I saw there was good talent there,” said the former Israel national coach. “When I was in Chelsea, we started … . We thought that it would be good to cover every area around the world, because good players can be (found) everywhere.
“We spoke about individuals. Of course, we can find individual good players in Jamaica and other countries also.”
Chelsea, Grant said, sent scouts to explore CONCACAF.
“(We) covered this area, including Jamaica,” he said.
Grant said he recognised players from the region are fast, skilful, strong and athletic. He noted top-level accomplishments of Jamaican-born Ricardo Gardner and Raheem Sterling, but said deeper analysis is needed to understand what ails the nation’s football, without a senior World Cup berth since ’98.
“To answer this question, I need to be there and see what is the problem,” Grant explained. “I cannot say what they don’t do well and what they need to do. Talent is basic. Nobody has enough talent to live on talent alone. They need to develop the talent,” Grant said.
He credits Cargill as the one who first opened his eyes to Jamaica’s potential.