When the national anthems are being played before Jamaica face Canada in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier in Toronto on August 20, Marlon King will not be around. King, one of the leading strikers for Jamaica over the last four years has not been recalled to the squad by Technical Director Rene Simoes.
“He has not yet received a call up for that game as yet,” responded the media manager of Wigan Athletic, when contacted Wednesday by JamaicaWin.com. “Maybe he will get a call soon.” That was the response given regarding King’s call up for the game against Canada.
Technical director Rene Simoes then confirmed that all the players for this game have been officially notified. “All the players have been called,” Simoes said. “The final list will be made public when we finish the camp (on August 14).”
King last played for Jamaica against the Bahamas in the first of two games at the National Stadium, scoring once in a 7-0 thrashing. Perhaps the writing was on the wall in the second game when he sat on the substitute’s bench for the 90 minutes.
In a letter to the media last month, Simoes hinted that there would be surprises. After speaking about discipline, self control, developing a winning habit and developing a positive and creative attitude, perhaps the most telling of all the passages would be the following: “Dear Jamaicans, these are the things we are working with our players, some will be there some will not. I will not compromise my principles in the name of a player, or the clubs or the persons who are connected to them,” he said in the ‘letter.’
Prompted by this letter which can be seen in its entirety on JamaicaWin.com , calls were made to clubs in England enquiring about the call up of Jamaican players to the squad for this game.
“We have to work as a team,” Simoes pointed out as he waited on his players after a practice match where they beat Premier League team Harbour View 2-1. “I have no time to work with those who cannot fit into the unit. When I came here the first time I had enough time to make changes as we went along. On this occasion, we have to work with those who can fit into the team.”
He went on to say that football has changed over the years to the point where any team can do without any one player. “Manchester United has not done badly since David Beckham moved to Real Madrid,” he pointed out.
This would not be the first time that Simoes has picked teams without some of Jamaica’s most celebrated players. Walter Boyd and Onandi Lowe come to mind, but there were others who were left off on various occasions as the Brazilian found them wanting. King was suspended for two years in 2006 by the past JFF administration for indiscipline, but he was reinstated by the new administration after the elections last November.
King made his debut for Jamaica against Venezuela in April, 2004 scoring once and two months later scored a hat-trick against Haiti in a World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium. The prolific striker scored twice when Jamaica beat El Salvador 3-0 in San Salvador.
The Brazilian said that the players for Jamaica’s second game in the qualifiers against Mexico on September 6 are yet to be confirmed. “It is a long time between the two games, so we have to wait and see. It could be the same players or we may call others,” he informed. “The door is never closed.”
