Former national striker Fabian Taylor has had a torrid time in the Norwegian league over the past two seasons as he has suffered one injury after another. This has led to the former Harbour View talisman contemplating quitting the sport.
“I am undecided if I am going to stay in Norway or just give up football for good,” Taylor declared. “It (football) is really not treating me good injury-wise, it is really slowing me up and I am not getting to perform like how I use to, and know I can.
“Right now, I am undecided as to what I am going to do. I am even thinking about giving it a rest for a little while and see how best I can come back or venture into something new,” he elaborated.
The 30-year-old who has spent three seasons in the Norwegian league managed 14 goals in his opening season, but this was not enough to prevent his club from being demoted to the second division. His club came close to regaining promotion to the first division in the just-concluded season but fell six points short of division winners, Asker FK (57 points). Taylor saw limited playing time due to his injuries and lack of fitness, and only scored six goals.
“For me, as a player, it has been a disappointing and really challenging year,” Taylor bemoaned. “I broke my leg last season and didn’t play at all and I was struggling for most of this season. Then I got injured just before the season finished and did a small knee operation, so it has been a really rough time for me.”
Both injuries were sustained during training. Taylor also has another problem as, with his club being part of the second division, he will not be granted a work permit for next season, as foreign nationals are not given work permits to play below the first division.
Undecided
Taylor said: “I have another year left on my contract but I am undecided because I cannot play in the second division anymore because I am a foreigner. As a foreigner, you are not going to, able to get a work permit playing in the second division in Norway.”
Taylor’s former Harbour View teammate, Dwayne Miller, has reaped success in his inaugural season with Swedish Division One Club Syrianska FC. Miller, in establishing himself as the number-one ranked custodian in the league led his team to the coveted championship title and promotion to the country’s premiership next season.
The 23-year-old stopper recorded 20 clean sheets, which contributed to Syrianska FC winning the League on goal difference – by one goal.
DWAYNE MILLER HELPS SYRIANSKA FC TO SWEDISH D1 TITLE
In his first season with the Swedish Division One Club, Jamaican goalkeeper Dwayne St Aubyn Miller won the coveted championship title, establishing himself as the number one ranked custodian in the league and in the process elevated his club to the country’s Premiership next season.
Starting in most of the 50 games played in the league and knockout competitions, the 23-year-old Jamaican stood out with a consistent display in recording some 20 clean-sheets, which in the end contributed to Syrianska FC winning the League on a goal difference, of one goal.
Syrianska FC and second-placed Norrkoping each scored 56 points, but Syrianska FC held a +19 goal difference to Norrkoping’s +18.
In the final game on Saturday, October 23rd, Syrianska FC won by 3-0 over Vasby United. Norrkoping faltered to only draw 1-1 against third-placed GIF Sundsvall.
Recovering from a pre-seasonal thigh injury, as he acclimatised to the frigid conditions after returning from training in Turkey, Miller’s discipline, commitment and fixity of purpose propelled him to soon regain his first string position and he secured that spot to impress all in the league.
The national player is expected home shortly, according to his agent Romel Wallen.