Downswell slams school coaches

Western Bureau: Responding to stinging criticisms that players from western Jamaica were slighted in the selection of Jamaica's squad for the 2011 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, national coach Wendell Downswell, who is also from the west, said he is not to be blamed.

"I had invited several players from the west but because coaches wanted to keep their players for the daCosta Cup, the invitations were not taken up," said Downswell. "The team was selected from the players who made themselves available."

During games involving the Jamaica team, Downswell came in for some amount of heckling from fans, claiming that he was a 'sell out' for ignoring promising young players from the region such as Rusea's star striker Anthony Walker, who at age 16 was one of the outstanding players in the 2010 daCosta Cup.

parochial attitude

"We cannot put the national programme on hold to suit coaches if they want their players to play daCosta Cup rather than getting into the national programme," said Downswell. "I can invite the players, as I have been doing, but I cannot force them to come into the national programme."

Downswell said he had become so frustrated by the parochial attitude of some of the high school coaches that he had even gone as far as to lodge a complaint to the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) technical committee.

"It think it is very unfair for people to be beating up on me saying that I am not selecting western players when I know that is not the case," said Downswell. "I am not trying to stir up any controversy but I am tired of having these untrue accusations going around so I want the public to hear my side of the story."

In responding to Downswell's claim, stalwart Rusea's coach Emerson 'Diggy' Henry, said that while he cannot speak for other western coaches, Rusea's always respond to invitations from the national coaches in a positive way, noting that he has a very good relationship with coach Downswell.

"I have regular discussions with coach Downswell and if there is a situation where there might be a problem with a player that is
required for national duties, we would discuss it," said Henry. "I, therefore, don't believe coach Downswell's comments apply to Rusea's."

However, another western coach, who asked not to be named, said he has serious concerns about the treatment of his players when they are called off to national duties in Kingston.

"The rural players suffer academically because while their Kingston counterparts can go to school and train because of the proximity of their schools to the training base, the rural players have no such luxury," the coach said. "If it was a case that they (the JFF) had tutors to help these youngsters, we would gladly send them."

star players

Late last year, there was a face-off between the JFF and St James High School over the school's decision to withdrew star players Allan Ottey and Ricardo Morris from the national programme on the grounds that their academics and attendance were being undermined.

Despite his frustration with the western high school coaches, Downswell said there is still hope for some of the talented youngsters as he seeks to strengthen the team ahead of this summer's FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Mexico.

"We are still seeking to strengthen the team going to the World Cup and the door is still open for some of the players who missed out of the qualifying tournament," said Downswell. "But going forward, we can't afford to have the national programme suffering because coaches choose to put school above country."

- A.F.