U-17s find ally in Costa Rican

BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor

Thursday, March 18, 2010

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- Anna Marin is not your typical football liaison. Besides being 'drop-dead' gorgeous, she has the admirable but rare trait of always willing to go beyond and above the call of duty, as she demonstrated over the past week or so.

Her addiction to hard work and sense of duty are a rarity among her peers -- so agreed managers and players of the Under-17 Reggae Girlz team here in competition.

The 22-year-old student of English for Translation would be seen lifting, carrying, fetching and performing varied tasks that are not necessarily part of her job description. But she does them anyway.

Her enthusiasm and drive, perhaps, are being fuelled by the fact that she has long been a fan of Jamaican culture, especially its popular reggae music.

"For me this has been a very exciting experience as your culture is very different and I just love it. I also like the way you treat people... you're all exactly the way I thought you would be -- very friendly and love your reggae and I love reggae too," said the former Costa Rican Under-20 female footballer.

"You know that sometimes you expect something and then you find something else? Well, I'm happy with what I've found with you all," beamed the petite young woman.

Marin, who plays in the Costa Rican women's premier league for Arenal Coronado, said the friendliness of the Jamaicans is simply mind-boggling.

"It's like Bob Marley's song, 'Every little thing is going to be all right and don't worry about a thing'.

"The other teams are like strict and get angry very easily, so that's another thing I love about Jamaicans," she said.

Marin, who was scheduled to play a league game on Saturday night for her club against Escazu (the team of former Reggae Girl Alicia Wilson) chose to be with the Jamaican contingent instead.

"I chose to be with the Jamaican team as I had a choice to play or be with the team, so I chose to be with the team because it's my job to take care of them," said Marin with a glow in her eyes.

Her team did not seem to miss her as they won the game, which was watched by the Jamaican players, coaches and managers shortly after the Young Girlz lost 0-3 to Mexico which effectively eliminated them from the CONCACAF Under-17 Women's World Cup at the Morera Soto Stadium on Saturday, 6-2.

Jean Nelson, team manager, who has been working closely with Marin, said on about seven overseas trips with Jamaica's women's team, she has never met a better liaison.

"This liaison officer is the best one so far. At one time when we were having our difficulties coming into Costa Rica, I had to call her about 5:30 one morning and I said 'I hope I didn't disturb you', and she said, 'No, it's okay'," she said.

The Costa Rican, in her first stint as a liaison official and virtually thrown in at the deep end after impressing recruiters with her English, has even become emotionally caught up with the Jamaicans' exploits. With each defeat the team suffered, Marin's draw would drop. She knew with early elimination, her heady fairytale ride would soon come to an end.

"When we lost the game against Mexico her demeanour was sad as she has become so much an integral part of the team," said Nelson.

"To see it is really marvellous and she has been a great help and has been a great liaison," noted Nelson.

Assistant coach Xavier Gilbert said he can't recall meeting a more willing soul in all of his football life.

"We're very impressed with her performance. She has been there 'twenty-four seven'... going the extra mile to ensure that we're comfortable. It's highly uncommon that you will travel... and basically have people... at your fingertips and doing the amount of stuff that she is doing," Gilbert told the Observer.

Gilbert believes the love for the Jamaican culture, people and the fact that she is a player helped to shape Marin into the working person she has shown the Jamaicans here.

Marin, who has vowed to follow her dream of visiting Jamaica one day, was obviously moved by the outpouring of affection and appreciation shown to her by her newfound Caribbean friends.

"It's an honour that they think good things about me, and I have been doing my best and I'm just happy to be here," she said.

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