https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/ Sun, 17 May 2026 04:37:31 +0000 MyBB https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-134.html Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:17:35 +0100 johntom]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-134.html
Remember a couple of years ago when people were throwing buckets of cold water over their head? it was to raise awareness for this condition.

According to the ALS Association What makes this disease so deadly is the fact that it is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.


Luton Shelton is 32 years old, this makes him younger than the average ALS victim who is normally 40 and above. Still, as mentioned before the disease can strike at any time.

Shelton was a star player for the Jamaican Football Team. He played 75 caps and scored 35 goals, he was devastating in front of goal and was more far more prolific than more talked about players.

His talents would see him play in countries like Sweden, Norway, UK and even Russia.

He returned to his old club Harbour View in 2017 and this was the last time we would see Luton Shelton on a football pitch.

I commend him for coming forward with his illness as that is not normal in Jamaican culture. In most places, if someone popular gets sick, its known immediately and there is a big awareness drive around whatever illness they have.

In Jamaica, you just hear someone is dead and then you are asking if they were sick? Just this week we saw it with Elva Ruddock and her fight with lupus Story Here

We can only hope that Luton gets the help he needs. It will be difficult for him as there will be the usual ignorant fools who will claim that he was a big rich footballer so why he doesn’t use his money and get better.

That is already the talk on social media from some. Fools who love to celebrate the downfall of someone, as if their time won’t come one day…]]>
Remember a couple of years ago when people were throwing buckets of cold water over their head? it was to raise awareness for this condition.

According to the ALS Association What makes this disease so deadly is the fact that it is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.


Luton Shelton is 32 years old, this makes him younger than the average ALS victim who is normally 40 and above. Still, as mentioned before the disease can strike at any time.

Shelton was a star player for the Jamaican Football Team. He played 75 caps and scored 35 goals, he was devastating in front of goal and was more far more prolific than more talked about players.

His talents would see him play in countries like Sweden, Norway, UK and even Russia.

He returned to his old club Harbour View in 2017 and this was the last time we would see Luton Shelton on a football pitch.

I commend him for coming forward with his illness as that is not normal in Jamaican culture. In most places, if someone popular gets sick, its known immediately and there is a big awareness drive around whatever illness they have.

In Jamaica, you just hear someone is dead and then you are asking if they were sick? Just this week we saw it with Elva Ruddock and her fight with lupus Story Here

We can only hope that Luton gets the help he needs. It will be difficult for him as there will be the usual ignorant fools who will claim that he was a big rich footballer so why he doesn’t use his money and get better.

That is already the talk on social media from some. Fools who love to celebrate the downfall of someone, as if their time won’t come one day…]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-131.html Mon, 04 Jun 2018 23:41:24 +0100 fbjnewsie]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-131.html

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Blistering youngster
Bailey, a 20-year-old Jamaican winger, only made the move to the BayArena in January of last year for a fee of 20 million Euro, following links with the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United.
The pacy starlet caught the eye with his performances in the Europa League for Belgian outfit Genk during the 2016/17 campaign, and racked up 12 goals and 6 assists in 34 domestic appearances this past season with Leverkusen (27 starts).]]>

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Blistering youngster
Bailey, a 20-year-old Jamaican winger, only made the move to the BayArena in January of last year for a fee of 20 million Euro, following links with the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United.
The pacy starlet caught the eye with his performances in the Europa League for Belgian outfit Genk during the 2016/17 campaign, and racked up 12 goals and 6 assists in 34 domestic appearances this past season with Leverkusen (27 starts).]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-121.html Sat, 27 Jan 2018 08:05:45 +0000 fbjnewsie]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-121.html
Leon Bailey, Bayer Leverkusen
Games played: 16 
Goals: 7 
Assists: 5 
Successful dribbles/Attempted: 45/89
“We bought him with an eye on 2017/18,” said Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler shortly after Bailey had put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal just over a year ago. The former Germany striker and coach has been proven right, and stunningly so.
Bailey’s 2016/17 stats mean little — he played just 133 minutes after his winter move from Genk — but his Bundesliga aperitif means he has been able to hit the ground running in 2017/18, and he has done so. Fast, very fast. The speed gun caught the jet-heeled Jamaican at 21.12mph, but more eye-catchingly still, Bailey has proven to be more than just quick.


A tally of seven league goals puts him second only to Kevin Volland (with 10) in the high-performing Leverkusen squad, while just six players in the entire Bundesliga have been involved in more goals for their teams than Bailey, who has also registered an impressive five assists.
His stats are thanks in large part to his pace — he has put the finishing touch to two counter-attacks — and an in-built clinical streak that means he is frugal but effective with his shots, finding the net every six attempts on goal, the best ratio of the quartet highlighted here. That ruthless streak also applies when he has been called on to change a game coming off the bench: three Jokertoren are testament to that.
He has an eye for the spectacular — want proof? Check out his impish backheel against Hoffenheim — and a handy knack for performing in big games, as witnessed by his Matchday 19 strike that adds to goals in matches against top-four rivals Schalke and Rheinland neighbours Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Aged just 20, the most exciting thing about Bailey is that the best is surely yet to come.

Source]]>
Leon Bailey, Bayer Leverkusen
Games played: 16 
Goals: 7 
Assists: 5 
Successful dribbles/Attempted: 45/89
“We bought him with an eye on 2017/18,” said Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler shortly after Bailey had put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal just over a year ago. The former Germany striker and coach has been proven right, and stunningly so.
Bailey’s 2016/17 stats mean little — he played just 133 minutes after his winter move from Genk — but his Bundesliga aperitif means he has been able to hit the ground running in 2017/18, and he has done so. Fast, very fast. The speed gun caught the jet-heeled Jamaican at 21.12mph, but more eye-catchingly still, Bailey has proven to be more than just quick.


A tally of seven league goals puts him second only to Kevin Volland (with 10) in the high-performing Leverkusen squad, while just six players in the entire Bundesliga have been involved in more goals for their teams than Bailey, who has also registered an impressive five assists.
His stats are thanks in large part to his pace — he has put the finishing touch to two counter-attacks — and an in-built clinical streak that means he is frugal but effective with his shots, finding the net every six attempts on goal, the best ratio of the quartet highlighted here. That ruthless streak also applies when he has been called on to change a game coming off the bench: three Jokertoren are testament to that.
He has an eye for the spectacular — want proof? Check out his impish backheel against Hoffenheim — and a handy knack for performing in big games, as witnessed by his Matchday 19 strike that adds to goals in matches against top-four rivals Schalke and Rheinland neighbours Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Aged just 20, the most exciting thing about Bailey is that the best is surely yet to come.

Source]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-120.html Sun, 15 Oct 2017 16:18:47 +0100 fbjnewsie]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-120.html
"I can't talk about it now, it is too painful to deal with, maybe another time," the senior Allan Cole told Loop Jamaica reporter Claude Mills on Monday evening.

Music insider Bridget Anderson said Cole Jr's son found him lying on the ground, unresponsive. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It is being speculated that Cole Jr died of a heart attack, but family members and friends are awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

"He was my brother, not my blood brother but a great friend. We have to wait on the autopsy to find out how he died. This is so tragic," Anderson said.

Sharing in his father's passion for football, Cole Jr, popularly known as "Ali", is a former captain of the Excelsior High Manning Cup team and played alongside Jamaican football legend Walter Boyd.

There have been an outpouring of tributes to Cole Jr since news of his death broke.

"Condolences to a very good friend of mine Mr Allan ' Skill ' Cole on the loss of his son Allan Cole Jr aka ' Ali' who is a school mate of mine and a very good friend also. Heart attack at such a young age it's sad to lose you in such a way but it's just the way life is," one man wrote on Facebook.

An Excelsior High past student, who was apparently a close friend of the deceased, wrote in a school community page on Facebook: "It was on Saturday I spoke to you never knowing that would be last time I would see you. I pray that your soul May rest in peace Allan "Ally" Cole Jr. Your presence will be truly missed."

Cole snr was a confidante and manager of late reggae legend Bob Marley.]]>
"I can't talk about it now, it is too painful to deal with, maybe another time," the senior Allan Cole told Loop Jamaica reporter Claude Mills on Monday evening.

Music insider Bridget Anderson said Cole Jr's son found him lying on the ground, unresponsive. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It is being speculated that Cole Jr died of a heart attack, but family members and friends are awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

"He was my brother, not my blood brother but a great friend. We have to wait on the autopsy to find out how he died. This is so tragic," Anderson said.

Sharing in his father's passion for football, Cole Jr, popularly known as "Ali", is a former captain of the Excelsior High Manning Cup team and played alongside Jamaican football legend Walter Boyd.

There have been an outpouring of tributes to Cole Jr since news of his death broke.

"Condolences to a very good friend of mine Mr Allan ' Skill ' Cole on the loss of his son Allan Cole Jr aka ' Ali' who is a school mate of mine and a very good friend also. Heart attack at such a young age it's sad to lose you in such a way but it's just the way life is," one man wrote on Facebook.

An Excelsior High past student, who was apparently a close friend of the deceased, wrote in a school community page on Facebook: "It was on Saturday I spoke to you never knowing that would be last time I would see you. I pray that your soul May rest in peace Allan "Ally" Cole Jr. Your presence will be truly missed."

Cole snr was a confidante and manager of late reggae legend Bob Marley.]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-79.html Sat, 04 Feb 2017 17:18:08 +0000 fbjnewsie]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-79.html
When this tough, no-nonsense competitor bleeds so much from an ugly memory, it must have touched a delicate nerve.

“It hurts a lot because every time I get called to camp it plays on my mind how we could have made it to the next round, or whenever I watch it on TV I keep wondering what we could have done better to be in that round.

“Even last night (Wednesday) when I got here (in Tennessee) I was thinking about it, I just can’t believe that we are not in the campaign to go the next World Cup, but you know it’s football and things happen. We have to just push on and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again,” he lamented.

The Dallas FC toughman, who is on loan to New England Revolution of the US Major League, has his own ideas why a relatively strong Jamaica team finished miserably at the bottom of their group in the fourth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers.
“I think preparation had a lot to do with it as when you look around the team everybody was friends, the camaraderie in the team was good.

“But I think in the end the preparation wasn’t good because football is getting bigger where preparation doesn’t only mean going on the field and play, but you have to watch videos of your opponents, getting to places on time,” said the former Central Academy standout.

But Watson says he has seen some positive signs since Theodore Whitmore assumed the head coach role, which could head off a recurrence of some of the negatives of the past.

“Since ‘Tappa’ came in we see some changes as he is making sure that every tool we need we have and everyone has their job description,” the attacking midfielder told the
Jamaica Observer.
As team captain and elder statesman, Watson’s role in the team has grown more important, especially that a lot of young local-based players have been injected, as Whitmore plots the course forward.

“My role is very important as I have been around for a long time and I have been trying to show the guys the ropes and trying to instil discipline and proper work ethics for everybody.

“As the elder player I am here to guide the others and make sure some rules are followed, as you know off the field activity is just as important as on the field,” Watson said.

Watson, 33, will lead the Reggae Boyz into battle today against old foes the USA in a friendly international at Finley Stadium with kick-off set for 7:00 pm.

And when he does he knows that it is a position he will not be able to hold to forever, but he intends to keep moving to the Reggae Boyz beat as long as his legs will take him.

“I will push as long as possible, as long as my body holds up and my mind is there, but this a game and you could get hurt and it’s all over.

“But I will just be trying to stay fit, injury-free and work hard, and I will always be trying to make my country proud every time I go on the field and I will always be ready to represent my country when called upon,” said the former Houston Dynamo man.

With some six years playing professionally in the USA, Watson, affectionately called ‘Akka’, noted that he was happy with his stint with New England Revolution, but aims to score more goals in the coming season.

“It’s been good since I have been with them last March, and played a couple of games and scored eight goals overall, but it has been a good experience playing for them.

“I am now hoping this year I can get more goals as I like scoring goals. Right now we are in preseason and the coach is good and the players are good, so I am just looking forward to the new season,” Watson ended.]]>
When this tough, no-nonsense competitor bleeds so much from an ugly memory, it must have touched a delicate nerve.

“It hurts a lot because every time I get called to camp it plays on my mind how we could have made it to the next round, or whenever I watch it on TV I keep wondering what we could have done better to be in that round.

“Even last night (Wednesday) when I got here (in Tennessee) I was thinking about it, I just can’t believe that we are not in the campaign to go the next World Cup, but you know it’s football and things happen. We have to just push on and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again,” he lamented.

The Dallas FC toughman, who is on loan to New England Revolution of the US Major League, has his own ideas why a relatively strong Jamaica team finished miserably at the bottom of their group in the fourth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers.
“I think preparation had a lot to do with it as when you look around the team everybody was friends, the camaraderie in the team was good.

“But I think in the end the preparation wasn’t good because football is getting bigger where preparation doesn’t only mean going on the field and play, but you have to watch videos of your opponents, getting to places on time,” said the former Central Academy standout.

But Watson says he has seen some positive signs since Theodore Whitmore assumed the head coach role, which could head off a recurrence of some of the negatives of the past.

“Since ‘Tappa’ came in we see some changes as he is making sure that every tool we need we have and everyone has their job description,” the attacking midfielder told the
Jamaica Observer.
As team captain and elder statesman, Watson’s role in the team has grown more important, especially that a lot of young local-based players have been injected, as Whitmore plots the course forward.

“My role is very important as I have been around for a long time and I have been trying to show the guys the ropes and trying to instil discipline and proper work ethics for everybody.

“As the elder player I am here to guide the others and make sure some rules are followed, as you know off the field activity is just as important as on the field,” Watson said.

Watson, 33, will lead the Reggae Boyz into battle today against old foes the USA in a friendly international at Finley Stadium with kick-off set for 7:00 pm.

And when he does he knows that it is a position he will not be able to hold to forever, but he intends to keep moving to the Reggae Boyz beat as long as his legs will take him.

“I will push as long as possible, as long as my body holds up and my mind is there, but this a game and you could get hurt and it’s all over.

“But I will just be trying to stay fit, injury-free and work hard, and I will always be trying to make my country proud every time I go on the field and I will always be ready to represent my country when called upon,” said the former Houston Dynamo man.

With some six years playing professionally in the USA, Watson, affectionately called ‘Akka’, noted that he was happy with his stint with New England Revolution, but aims to score more goals in the coming season.

“It’s been good since I have been with them last March, and played a couple of games and scored eight goals overall, but it has been a good experience playing for them.

“I am now hoping this year I can get more goals as I like scoring goals. Right now we are in preseason and the coach is good and the players are good, so I am just looking forward to the new season,” Watson ended.]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-78.html Thu, 26 Jan 2017 23:05:18 +0000 fbjnewsie]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-78.html Lloyd Lindbergh "Lindy" Delapenha (5 May 1927 – 26 January 2017) was a Jamaican footballer and sports journalist. He was an old boy of the prestigious boys' school Munro College in Jamaica where he was a football player. He was the first Jamaican to play professional football in England.


Footballing career - The Spot Kick King



Above alongside team mate Bosco Jankovic at 'Boro.

After a phenomenal performance as a schoolboy athlete, taking part in 16 events over a one-and-a-half-day period, he served with the British Armed Forces in the Middle East following World War II. During his service, an English football scout saw him playing football for the British army.





This gained him a trial with Arsenal, but he did not sign for the club, and in April 1948 he joined Portsmouth. There, he became the first Jamaican to play professional football in England. Although it is claimed he was the first non-white player to appear in the English Football League First Division, he was actually predated by several other non-white players, including Arthur Wharton, who played a First Division match for Sheffield United as far back as 1894-95.



He went on to win a league championship medal with Portsmouth in 1948. In April 1950, after a successful few years with Portsmouth, he transferred to Middlesbrough where his career took off. He played on the wing or inside-forward, and became Boro's leading scorer in the 1951-52, 1953–54 and 1955–56 seasons. In total he scored 93 league and FA Cup goals in 270 appearances.



He moved to Mansfield Town in June 1958, contributing 27 goals in 115 appearances over two years, before retiring from League football in 1960.



Delapenha played non-league football, Hereford United and Burton Albion. He won the Southern League Cup in 1964 with Burton.


He moved back to Jamaica in 1964.



Broadcasting career


Having returned home, Delapenha played cricket for a short time and represented Boys' Town at football, taking them from Division 3 up to Division 1. Soon after though, he became director of sports at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation.



At the JBC, he had various roles including co-ordinating coverage of cricket, the Commonwealth Games, and helped bring international football to Jamaica. He stayed there for 30 years before JBC was sold and his services were no longer required.


He died on 26 January 2017 at the age of 89, after a stroke.

---

Recent Mentions:

Spanish star Alvaro Negredo is set to add his name to an impressive list of centre-forwards – all of them foreigners – who have graced the Boro front line over the last 20 years or so.

It’s all part of a general belief throughout the Riverside, stretching all the way up to chairman Steve Gibson, that you need a top striker to provide pitch presence if you want to keep pace with the big boys.

In modern times it started with the Italian battering ram, Fabrizio Ravanelli, in 1996, and continued through such household names as Alen Boksic, Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Yakubu.

There were others who fell by the wayside, the obvious one being Brazilian flop Afonso Alves.

Yet it’s become something of a Boro tradition to bring in top foreign forwards to show that the club means business.

Hopefully it will mean goals, but such top strikers also inspire the squad as a whole, and put bums on seats.

Naturally you have to pay over the odds for these big-name forwards. If they can fit into the team and produce the goods then it is money well spent.

In fact you must speculate to accumulate in the Premier League. Norwich City didn’t over-extend themselves last season in the top flight and were relegated at the first attempt.

Boro have never been afraid to bring in non-English stars, of course. They were masters at exploiting the Scottish market before the Second World War, when Boro’s directors regularly made successful border raids.

In the 1950s, Jamaican-born striker Lindy Delapenha scored 93 goals in 270 Boro appearances and was a popular player with the fans.]]> Lloyd Lindbergh "Lindy" Delapenha (5 May 1927 – 26 January 2017) was a Jamaican footballer and sports journalist. He was an old boy of the prestigious boys' school Munro College in Jamaica where he was a football player. He was the first Jamaican to play professional football in England.


Footballing career - The Spot Kick King



Above alongside team mate Bosco Jankovic at 'Boro.

After a phenomenal performance as a schoolboy athlete, taking part in 16 events over a one-and-a-half-day period, he served with the British Armed Forces in the Middle East following World War II. During his service, an English football scout saw him playing football for the British army.





This gained him a trial with Arsenal, but he did not sign for the club, and in April 1948 he joined Portsmouth. There, he became the first Jamaican to play professional football in England. Although it is claimed he was the first non-white player to appear in the English Football League First Division, he was actually predated by several other non-white players, including Arthur Wharton, who played a First Division match for Sheffield United as far back as 1894-95.



He went on to win a league championship medal with Portsmouth in 1948. In April 1950, after a successful few years with Portsmouth, he transferred to Middlesbrough where his career took off. He played on the wing or inside-forward, and became Boro's leading scorer in the 1951-52, 1953–54 and 1955–56 seasons. In total he scored 93 league and FA Cup goals in 270 appearances.



He moved to Mansfield Town in June 1958, contributing 27 goals in 115 appearances over two years, before retiring from League football in 1960.



Delapenha played non-league football, Hereford United and Burton Albion. He won the Southern League Cup in 1964 with Burton.


He moved back to Jamaica in 1964.



Broadcasting career


Having returned home, Delapenha played cricket for a short time and represented Boys' Town at football, taking them from Division 3 up to Division 1. Soon after though, he became director of sports at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation.



At the JBC, he had various roles including co-ordinating coverage of cricket, the Commonwealth Games, and helped bring international football to Jamaica. He stayed there for 30 years before JBC was sold and his services were no longer required.


He died on 26 January 2017 at the age of 89, after a stroke.

---

Recent Mentions:

Spanish star Alvaro Negredo is set to add his name to an impressive list of centre-forwards – all of them foreigners – who have graced the Boro front line over the last 20 years or so.

It’s all part of a general belief throughout the Riverside, stretching all the way up to chairman Steve Gibson, that you need a top striker to provide pitch presence if you want to keep pace with the big boys.

In modern times it started with the Italian battering ram, Fabrizio Ravanelli, in 1996, and continued through such household names as Alen Boksic, Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Yakubu.

There were others who fell by the wayside, the obvious one being Brazilian flop Afonso Alves.

Yet it’s become something of a Boro tradition to bring in top foreign forwards to show that the club means business.

Hopefully it will mean goals, but such top strikers also inspire the squad as a whole, and put bums on seats.

Naturally you have to pay over the odds for these big-name forwards. If they can fit into the team and produce the goods then it is money well spent.

In fact you must speculate to accumulate in the Premier League. Norwich City didn’t over-extend themselves last season in the top flight and were relegated at the first attempt.

Boro have never been afraid to bring in non-English stars, of course. They were masters at exploiting the Scottish market before the Second World War, when Boro’s directors regularly made successful border raids.

In the 1950s, Jamaican-born striker Lindy Delapenha scored 93 goals in 270 Boro appearances and was a popular player with the fans.]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-77.html Thu, 26 Jan 2017 22:28:45 +0000 fbjnewsie]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-77.html Reggae Boy Errol Stevens, who now plays for Hai Phong FC in farflung Vietnam, wants to use his early struggles as a source of motivation for aspiring Jamaican footballers.

The 30-year-old striker who last played for Jamaica in 2012 posted a video on Facebook highlighting his difficulties in securing a contract in Thailand, where he was subjected to unpleasant circumstances, which included living a cramped apartment with no furniture or appliances.

“In 2013 I got a link with an agent and went to Thailand. The agent promised a sure contract, as they always promise. So when I reached we (Dicoy Williams) didn’t have anywhere to stay. When I left Jamaica I don’t have a dollar in my pocket, or maybe around US$50,” Stevens revealed in his video.

He continued: “The man (agent) send we go four or five teams in the space of two weeks and Thailand big. Me and Dicoy drive from one city to the other for about five hours.”

Stevens said when Williams and himself reached the club, the coaching staff was not expecting them and thought they were stowaway Africans.

“So at the same time the transfer market a close down and we never get no team. But we ended up training with a little one team and Ding (Williams) never got to train because the man say is just a striker him want,” he noted.
The former Portmore United, Harbour View and Arnett Gardens striker said if it wasn’t for a video he made of himself while playing for Jamaica, he wouldn’t have got the chance to train.

“I just finished playing with Jamaica in 2012, so I did make a little YouTube video and a that make me even get on the field. I showed the man (boss) and he saw that it was the same person. So he told the coach to put me in for 20 minutes. We ended up winning the match 6-2 and I scored two and set two. So when that finished we just leave and go back where the man have we a stay,” said Stevens.

Being frustrated with all the travelling and no trial, Williams said he was heading back to Jamaica. But not Stevens, as he was determined to see it out despite the adverse conditions.

“So Dicoy said he was going home because it was a joke thing and a waste a time. But I was thinking the same thing. But I said, ‘Ding, I don’t have anything to go home to. I am broke like dog. Nothing. So me not going home until I get something,” he pointed out.

Stevens, who had a short stint in Russia FC Khimki in 2009, was sent on another trial at another club.

“But the team that I went to before called the agent and said bring the ‘baller come’; we want to sign him. So I ended up there and signed for around US$2,000. I couldn’t do any better. If they did tell me US$1,000 I would take it,” said a desperate Stevens.

The powerful striker, who is known for his pace and trickery, signed for Saraburi FC in Thailand, which is over 10,000 miles from Jamaica. In addition to that, he was faced with a foreign language and an alien culture.
“The man carry me go a little apartment — is only a mat on the ground. An empty room with a mat that you brush off you foot on,” Stevens emphasised.

“In my mind I was saying the situation grim and I could walk leave it. But at the end of the day, I said nothing not at yard (Jamaica),” he noted.

“But I said I born at Portmore Lane, and up to when I was eight years old a pit toilet we were using. So I said this is the least,” he added.

“The house that I was in I have to be paying rent for it and it has nothing in it, and I have to find food and everything same way. I have to find travelling to go training. So literally when they pay me at month time, all the money spend back in the country. It was five bills US (US$500) I could save after six months. I scored six goals in 14 matches in that six months. They gave me a next contract with just five bills more. So I ended getting US$2,500 (about $300,000) and I couldn’t turn it down,” said Stevens.

He ended with 16 goals in 40 games after he was snapped up by Vietnamese club Hai Phong in 2014, and to date he has banged in 24 goals from 49 games.
Married to a Russian he met in Thailand, and only recently welcoming a baby son to his family, Stevens is enjoying his time in Asia. He’s also enjoying his time on the pitch as well, where he has formed a lethal partnership with former Harbour View player Andre Fagan.

“So I am just showing people that from there until now I don’t go back at Jamaica. I ended coming to Vietnam, much, much better situation, and as you can see my life dramatically changed. I am just showing that sometimes you have to put your pride aside and no matter how small you have to start, is a start,” said Stevens.

“My story is nothing great, but I can take care of my family and make life better,” he added.]]> Reggae Boy Errol Stevens, who now plays for Hai Phong FC in farflung Vietnam, wants to use his early struggles as a source of motivation for aspiring Jamaican footballers.

The 30-year-old striker who last played for Jamaica in 2012 posted a video on Facebook highlighting his difficulties in securing a contract in Thailand, where he was subjected to unpleasant circumstances, which included living a cramped apartment with no furniture or appliances.

“In 2013 I got a link with an agent and went to Thailand. The agent promised a sure contract, as they always promise. So when I reached we (Dicoy Williams) didn’t have anywhere to stay. When I left Jamaica I don’t have a dollar in my pocket, or maybe around US$50,” Stevens revealed in his video.

He continued: “The man (agent) send we go four or five teams in the space of two weeks and Thailand big. Me and Dicoy drive from one city to the other for about five hours.”

Stevens said when Williams and himself reached the club, the coaching staff was not expecting them and thought they were stowaway Africans.

“So at the same time the transfer market a close down and we never get no team. But we ended up training with a little one team and Ding (Williams) never got to train because the man say is just a striker him want,” he noted.
The former Portmore United, Harbour View and Arnett Gardens striker said if it wasn’t for a video he made of himself while playing for Jamaica, he wouldn’t have got the chance to train.

“I just finished playing with Jamaica in 2012, so I did make a little YouTube video and a that make me even get on the field. I showed the man (boss) and he saw that it was the same person. So he told the coach to put me in for 20 minutes. We ended up winning the match 6-2 and I scored two and set two. So when that finished we just leave and go back where the man have we a stay,” said Stevens.

Being frustrated with all the travelling and no trial, Williams said he was heading back to Jamaica. But not Stevens, as he was determined to see it out despite the adverse conditions.

“So Dicoy said he was going home because it was a joke thing and a waste a time. But I was thinking the same thing. But I said, ‘Ding, I don’t have anything to go home to. I am broke like dog. Nothing. So me not going home until I get something,” he pointed out.

Stevens, who had a short stint in Russia FC Khimki in 2009, was sent on another trial at another club.

“But the team that I went to before called the agent and said bring the ‘baller come’; we want to sign him. So I ended up there and signed for around US$2,000. I couldn’t do any better. If they did tell me US$1,000 I would take it,” said a desperate Stevens.

The powerful striker, who is known for his pace and trickery, signed for Saraburi FC in Thailand, which is over 10,000 miles from Jamaica. In addition to that, he was faced with a foreign language and an alien culture.
“The man carry me go a little apartment — is only a mat on the ground. An empty room with a mat that you brush off you foot on,” Stevens emphasised.

“In my mind I was saying the situation grim and I could walk leave it. But at the end of the day, I said nothing not at yard (Jamaica),” he noted.

“But I said I born at Portmore Lane, and up to when I was eight years old a pit toilet we were using. So I said this is the least,” he added.

“The house that I was in I have to be paying rent for it and it has nothing in it, and I have to find food and everything same way. I have to find travelling to go training. So literally when they pay me at month time, all the money spend back in the country. It was five bills US (US$500) I could save after six months. I scored six goals in 14 matches in that six months. They gave me a next contract with just five bills more. So I ended getting US$2,500 (about $300,000) and I couldn’t turn it down,” said Stevens.

He ended with 16 goals in 40 games after he was snapped up by Vietnamese club Hai Phong in 2014, and to date he has banged in 24 goals from 49 games.
Married to a Russian he met in Thailand, and only recently welcoming a baby son to his family, Stevens is enjoying his time in Asia. He’s also enjoying his time on the pitch as well, where he has formed a lethal partnership with former Harbour View player Andre Fagan.

“So I am just showing people that from there until now I don’t go back at Jamaica. I ended coming to Vietnam, much, much better situation, and as you can see my life dramatically changed. I am just showing that sometimes you have to put your pride aside and no matter how small you have to start, is a start,” said Stevens.

“My story is nothing great, but I can take care of my family and make life better,” he added.]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-28.html Fri, 16 Dec 2016 14:49:32 +0000 johntom]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-28.html
Leon Bailey (born 9 August 1997) is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Belgian club K.R.C. Genk. He plays as a winger.

Bailey was in the news in 2013 when while at KRC Genk he was illegally staying in Belgium having been taken there by a sports agent who had him sign a contract at KRC Genk. After a raid by the Labour Ministry, Bailey and his entourage suddenly disappeared.

Bailey joined K.R.C. Genk in 2015 from Trencin. He made his Belgian Pro League debut on 21 August 2015 in a 3–1 away defeat against Sint-Truiden replacing Siebe Schrijvers after 62 minutes.[3] He scored his first professional goal for KRC Genk on 21 November versus OH Leuven. At then end of the 2015–2016 season he won the Belgian Young Footballer of the Year award.

Bailey played in a friendly match for Jamaica under-23's on 8 March 2015 versus the Cayman Islands under-23 side, where he scored directly from a freekick.

Honours:
Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 2015–16

FIrst ever Jamaica to win that honour in Belgium, and at a time when that country is once again producing great talents to compete against!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_pr...all_awards]]>
Leon Bailey (born 9 August 1997) is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Belgian club K.R.C. Genk. He plays as a winger.

Bailey was in the news in 2013 when while at KRC Genk he was illegally staying in Belgium having been taken there by a sports agent who had him sign a contract at KRC Genk. After a raid by the Labour Ministry, Bailey and his entourage suddenly disappeared.

Bailey joined K.R.C. Genk in 2015 from Trencin. He made his Belgian Pro League debut on 21 August 2015 in a 3–1 away defeat against Sint-Truiden replacing Siebe Schrijvers after 62 minutes.[3] He scored his first professional goal for KRC Genk on 21 November versus OH Leuven. At then end of the 2015–2016 season he won the Belgian Young Footballer of the Year award.

Bailey played in a friendly match for Jamaica under-23's on 8 March 2015 versus the Cayman Islands under-23 side, where he scored directly from a freekick.

Honours:
Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 2015–16

FIrst ever Jamaica to win that honour in Belgium, and at a time when that country is once again producing great talents to compete against!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_pr...all_awards]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-19.html Wed, 27 Jul 2016 09:42:55 +0100 johntom]]> https://www.footballjamaica.com/labrish/thread-19.html