Nice interview. However, I think he was wrong or naive about certain procedures in his young development life. And it seem to have stuck with him to this day. Maybe a trip outside would have taken those blinders off, as it does for many athletes who are able to widen their view and appreciate a different perspective.
As Mr David tried to intimate, not because you good ( great even) ppl will come running to you. Cause in the wide world outside, there may be others who are greater.
One cannot just sit on their Laurels, especially in a team sport. You have to be able to work with ppl and in some cases meet them halfway. I don’t think it was dreads, I think may have been a combination of being slightly introverted, listening to inaccurate or poor advice and poor decision making.
I could be wrong, really sorry he didn’t get the opportunity doh. From all reports “ he coulda be a contender”.
I saw Leo Brewster long before him, deal with Rasta issues and still got on the team.
That's not on the table for speculation or debate.
It may seem speculative based on Steve (not having seen him/hearing about him belatedly/not being on the ground at the time) and Narada (not yet on the scene) and the way in which Clauzel has framed in 2020 his late 70s/1980 understanding of himself ... but, even Roderick Warner aside, there is a chronicling of discrimination regarding Clauzel, even if he himself is not intimately aware of the construction of that discrimination. In that regard, the person(s) to be queried is/are not Clauzel himself but those who are still alive and would honestly state on the record the mechanism of Clauzel's marginalization.
Also, separately, while I understand your point about his introvertedness, humility and withdrawal not working for him, be reminded that it's important not to cast aside the societal context of the 60s and 70s in understanding how a conscious young mind would understand his responsibility to self in 1978.
Frankly, on many levels, Clauzel is to be saluted for who he became and what he didn't become.
It's difficult to place a social valuation on pride although I accept that it comes with a cost. However, in a meritocracy, it shouldn't in any way punish "the excellent" even if it ravages "the average". On merit, he need not have begged anyone.
Last thing: while Mucurapo worked to establish itself and get upstairs and establish respect, the legacy of Clauzel includes transforming the self-confidence of subsequent Colleges players who faced not just Compre but also other similar institutions. What Mucurapo did was a game changer for other Comprehensive schools across the country.
Clauzel's legacy and his losses are beyond the boundaries of a football field.
Almost forgot this --- a schoolboy with locks presented entirely different terms of engagement than an adult with locks and how society negotiated those interactions and expectations.
What Clauzel lacked was advocates and patrons who could help him negotiate the goings.
I missed this. Luck and choices. Even today, you can be a best baller, but you carry yourself a certain way - not necessarily a negative way , just different - a coach might take one look at you, and decide you are a good player with your team, but would you fit with his team. Judge or Misjudge. We all do it sometimes, especially when there is a short time to evaluate. Not an easy thing. I know players here who were skipped over from the Prov. team, because they were Rasta, the coach was worried they would cause issues with drugs when we were travelling abroad. I myself only found out when he confessed to me over a few beers. He was the only other Trini on the team, and was the best of the midfielders, a better player than I. I pointed out to the coach, that was foolish, "99" was dread, but not stupid. The rest is another story..
Here's another Story doh..
In a old timers game, my left wing, start to cuss my right wing, we up 4-0, I start to cuss both of them, off my jersey and walk off the field. The club manager disappointed in me, I'm supposed to be experienced. As i head to the car, a voice call out, "maxg, Hi, how are you doing".
I turn, it's the new COO (axeman) from my office job, the company hire him to cut the fat and do some lay-offs. He just happen to be living across the road from the field. Of course my bamcee start winking onetime, mostly shock, that someone from teh office see me in Negative Trini mode.
He then said, "man, how can you deal with those fking guys, I woulda have left long time ago ? I watched for the last hour."..I said, " I shouldn't of let them get to me, they're always like that". "God must have put you here to make me realize that my reaction was wrong. Now even my bud, the manger upset "
I suddenly realized I wasn't worried about losing my job, as much as I was concerned about losing my friends. I said "excuse me, let me go back and try to fix this". I apologized to the team, and suspended myself for a couple games. I looked around Axeman was gone. I then told them the story(his), and the 2 guys felt bad, sorry for me losing me job, and I let them know that I am only upset for why I did.
The following week, Axeman cut 2 of my Snrs, and recommended me for promotion. When I did see him, and asked him how come. He said the fact that I turned around and went back, even though I was upset, impressed him.
Luck and Choices.
Even doh them fellas would swear, I just come back for the beers. Still turn out to be win-win.
Sometimes the Luck present the choices, and sometimes the Choices make the Luck. Maybe it was the beers.
I still think Clauzel may have made wrong choices, not involving or dependent on his faith.
Does that make sense ? or just rum talk .