Skipper Flemmings plans to lead from the front
VERACRUZ, Panama — Forget that he is only 17 years old. Junior Flemmings is a young man serious about leading from the front.
And young as he is, the current captain of the Jamaica Under-17 squad does have some experience. Flemmings was a member of the squad which sealed qualification for the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Mexico.
The Jamaica Observer caught up with the striker yesterday at the squad’s base at the Hotel Intercontinental Playa Bonita here ahead of today’s CONCACAF Under-17 Championship match against hosts Panama.
“I have a lot of responsibility because I was on the team that qualified for the World Cup in 2011. I have to bring all that experience and share it with this team,” said the Jamaica College fifth form student.
“It’s a big privilege and an honour to lead your country, and I know there’s a lot of expectation. I have to be responsible enough as a man to take up the captaincy,” added the Tivoli Gardens FC Premier League player.
It isn’t hard to be convinced of the youngster’s manly claim if one notes the way he carries himself throughout training or the keen attentiveness with which he listens to head coach Wendell Downswell and the rest of the management staff.
And apparently, it is no sweat that the usually strong and pacy Panamanians have, more times than not, found ways to repel the Reggae Boyz — at both senior and youth levels — in recent memory.
Flemmings, who has been with the Tivoli club since he was 11 years old and grew up in the tough west Kingston environs, maintained a steely confidence in looking ahead to this evening’s crunch meeting.
His focus is simple; to clear the path for the country’s qualification to consecutive Under-17 World Cups.
“I have played in the Premier League against older players and, for me, it’s a positive thing knowing that I have all that experience. I’m looking forward to bringing that and more to the table come tomorrow (today),” he said sternly.
Should Jamaica make it to the semi-final stage of this CONCACAF tournament, they will automatically qualify for the Under-17 World Cup later this year in the United Arab Emirates.
Surely then Flemmings will be grinning from ear to ear.
