Written by Clyde Jureidini
Watching in late November, the football world is abuzz with excitement as we are dazzled by the phenomenal talents of the dynamic duo of scoring machines, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
MESSI AND RONALDO EXPLOSION OF STARS:
The Heineken sponsored UEFA Champions League hatrick yesterday by the little Argentinian master, Messi etched the diminutive Barcelona striker on 74 goals, an all-time record surpassing former Spanish Real Madrid forward, Raul on 71 and yes, the ambitious Portuguese Ronaldo right behind on 70, he will soon also eclipse the former record to continue this intriguing battle with Messi. Probably with a hatrick or four, to salute with a photographic pose with his feet apart, arms raised and hair always fashioned in immaculate style.
At the ages of 27 and 29 respectively both players have won multiple awards in FIFA Ballon d’Or, club Championships, over 400 goals at an average of more than 50 goals each season recently and continue to be megastars globally but not won a FIFA World Cup. Still they inspire young players and their seniors worldwide to aspire to higher goals, entertain and achieve consistent international standards of goalscoring feats weekly.
BACK ON EARTH:
As we suddenly awaken from our far away journey amongst the superstars, we land back on earth in the Caribbean, Jamaica in particular, where the Red Stripe brewery sponsored Premier League is bubbling after watching the FIFA World Cup 2014, in June, RSPL began in September, then last week watching the Reggae Boyz winning the CFU Caribbean Cup in Montego Bay.
This is followed immediately with the FLOW Champions Cup Final at the same stadium a week later with two western clubs Reno FC against Montego Bay United battling to a seven goal thriller, 4-3. Yes, yes, two hatricks by two fabulous young strikers, the red-hot westmorelander, 23 year old diminutive and swift Craig Foster and “give-me-a-final and I will give-you-a-hatrick” taller, pacy 24 year old striker, Dino Williams. Both a picture of confidence, talent and positive execution under pressure but yet to break into the Reggae Boyz outfit regularly, probably soon.
Craig Foster’s third goal, was just a fantastic strike from about 25 yards out flashing pass goalkeeper Jacomena Barrett to rattle the support posts after evading three defenders in his wake. Stating his intent from early season to make the national team, Foster has been delivering consistently at a very high throttle, with ten (10) League goals in nine (9) games, plus these three (3) in the Cup to demand selection. Shades of Jermaine “Tuffy” Anderson, two seasons ago, comes quickly to mind, even as he was then 33 years old at that time.
Foster was appropriately chosen as the China Harbour Starballer of the month, crowned on the popular Monday Night LIVE TV Game at Stadium East, with Waterhouse FC defeating Cavalier SC. Itself with a very good couple of goals from Tremaine Stewart and Romario Campbell adding spice to the art of spectacular goalscoring.
BRIAN BROWN INSPIRES EXCELLENCE:
At this time last year, on November 27th to be exact, a confident 20 year old Harbour View FC striker, Brian Brown, from the western end of the island in Hanover, scored what was the first hatrick of the season against Cavalier SC at the same Stadium East, to lead the goalscoring charts with eight (8) goals in the league and one (1) in the Cup. Two of these goals came from right-sided crosses from a former Reggae Boyz attacking player, Xavian Virgo, 29 years old, now of Boys’ Town FC. Both players have not been selected to the Reggae Boyz team recently but their positive play inspiration looms large over the football landscape.
There was only one other hatrick last season but the new season burst wide open already in late November, we have witnessed four (4) hatricks by younger twenty-three or twenty-four year old players. Not surprisingly started by his former teammates, Allan Ottey of Montego Bay United and Ranique Muir at Harbour View FC, then Mario McDonald of Barbican and Alonzo Adlam from Arnett Gardens FC scorched four goals before the two hatricks in the FLOW Cup Final on last Sunday.
The talented striker, Brown went on impressing in a season where the won the leading goalscorer prize for each of the three (3) Rounds of the Premier League and the overall “Golden Boot” Champion with eighteen (18) goals plus two (2) in the Cup competitions, totaling twenty (20) goals. Ending the reign of senior thirty plus year old strikers as the top marksman, pushing aside Jermaine “Tuffy” Anderson, Kirk Ramsay and Devon Hodges in a combative title race that lasted all season right down to the last games.
He gained two substitute appearances for the Reggae Boyz against Trinidad before landing a half season Loan Contract in July with MLS Franchise The Philadelphia Union until December 2014. He scored two (2) goals in only 230 minutes of play.
More importantly through his discipline, confidence, talent and high performance under pressure he inspired the next generation of young players islandwide to emerge as he gained international exposure and value to exhibit a path of positive identity as a role model to players, parishioners and students particularly in western jamaica. His time will come again to make his mark with the Reggae Boyz as he seeks to gain a new contract overseas in the new year 2015.
XAVIAN VIRGO, THE ULTIMATE ATTACKING WINGBACK:
The marauding attacking waves of motion, up and down the flanks with teasing and perfectly weighted crosses, shots and dribbles at blinding pace has always, been the trademark of Xavian “Billie” Virgo from the early days at Boys’ Town FC where he made a name for himself and deservedly was selected twenty one times in the Reggae Boyz squad, while scoring one goal in a 3-2 victory over New Zealand.
His attacking is so impressive you may not have observed his swift turnaround, pressing the ball, winning tackles or interception defensively to complete his team roles. Recently in a October 13th, Red Stripe Monday Night LIVE TV Game against Arnett Gardens FC his first-touch, control of Asrick Samuels 30 yards beauty pass at top flight down the flank, dribble and lay up earned the highest praise from TV Commentator/Coach, Neville Bell and the entire football fraternity watching as he set up a goal at the near post that was expertly converted with one touch by his teammate Garfield Gillespie. Excellence, in transitional play worth studying by all players locally and internationally.
His style of attacking is fresh and exciting to players and spectators alike, influencing his already competent former teammate Kemar “Taxi” Lawrence over the last two seasons while at HVFC, plus Hughan Gray clearly has many natural attributes that compliment his game, while both these younger players also have been adding goalscoring to the crosses to torment opponents in attack as evidenced recently for the Reggae Boyz.
Keep on doing what you are doing “Billie”, Jamaica’s football is better for it and we your fans enjoy the exhilarating burst, crosses, squares, shots, dribbles and stop-n-go’s.
Hopefully others will reward your industry soon at the international level.