I am Jamaican!
By Joel Grant, Jamaica Observer.
Something that I have constantly heard, or read, is that the Jamaica Football Federation has ignored home-grown players and has instead opted to use “average and mediocre” foreign-born players.
When I say foreign players, more often than not, it is a direct reference to Jamaican footballers born and raised in England
As an English-based player, I would like to share my thoughts on the issue. To begin, Jamaican-born players Raheem Sterling and our latest prodigy, Leon Bailey, are very highly thought of in football circles, but have chosen not to represent their country of their birth.
So it’s funny that there are Jamaican-born players who have opted to play for another country, and while that is okay, the commitment of foreign-born Jamaican players is questioned, even though some us have underlined that commitment from an early age.
In 1998, the Jamaica World Cup team consisted of seven English-based players, and the use of English-based players has been a consistent feature when it comes to team selection. Since 2014, this number has remained steady and includes players such as Wes Morgan, who carries the flag for the current Premier League champions, and we also have Michael Hector, currently at Chelsea. These two high-profile players increase the following of Jamaican football worldwide. I believe, as a country, we must support players that are committed, regardless of where they were born.
Some of the best teams in the world use players with dual citizenship, but I agree, it is important to improve and help our own, local players to reach their potential.
Why is it that our track and field team is so strong? The development of athletes starts at an early age. Jamaica has a lot of natural talent, which is something that is not often seen in England and causes managers to ask about local (Jamaican) players. These managers question the consistency of such players, but I believe all it takes is an opportunity.
Ever since I was able to make decisions, I decided I was Jamaican. I wasn’t born on the land, but my spirit was. As a young boy playing marbles with my cousins in the countryside, to growing up and partying at Asylum and Quad, I have always lived with Jamaican blood.
My mother’s birth country and current home will always be what I refer to as my adopted place of birth. I wanted to be the next Walter Boyd, before I saw Whitmore and Onandi Lowe play in the World Cup.
During my many vacations back to Jamaica, I got to spend time with Bibi (Gardner), and being around him as one of the Jamaican players I looked up to was enough to convince me that Jamaica was the right place for me.
At a young age, I had the chance to represent England, but why would I? In my mind, I am Jamaican. I represented Jamaica at Under-20 and Under-23 levels, and it still took me seven years to break into the senior team, which is one of my greatest achievements.
I still dream of making it to a World Cup and will keep giving my best and praying for this to become a reality. It is fair to say that I am fully committed to everything Jamaica, which is why it disappoints me to see my love and commitment, and that of other England-born players, questioned.
Myself and the majority of my teammates have made sacrifices so that we are able to represent our ‘adopted country’. Sometimes certain issues are not known or seen. For example, in my case, I left my home, England, less than 24 hours after the birth of my first child to head for the Copa America, a tournament that I did not feature in. Luckily for me, I have an understanding family who appreciates my commitment to the cause of Jamaica’s football.
Having been involved with the programme on and off for many years, I hope that going forward we get the balance right between local and overseas-born players, for as we say: Out of many, one people.
Note: Joel Grant, an England-born Reggae Boy midfielder/winger, plies his trade for League Two Exeter City in England.
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