BACK in the 1990s, two of Jamaica’s finest footballers, Paul Young Snr and Gregory Messam Snr, bonded together in a common cause that helped Jamaica qualify for its only senior World Cup appearance in France.

Now, some 17 years on, their sons, Paul Young Jnr and Gregory Messam Jnr, are bonding together in a common cause, this time to bring glory to St George’s College in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Associaition (ISSA)/Flow Manning Cup competition.

Paul Young Snr, 47, was a regular member of the Reggae Boyz during the 1990s, earning 86 caps and scoring 28 goals for Jamaica.

Messam Snr, 42, who made his debut for Jamaica against Canada in 1995, was an outstanding defender, a solid left back with an attacking flair, who earned 30 caps for the Reggae Boyz.

Young Snr was a menace to defenders during his Manning Cup years with Wolmer’s Boys’.

Messam Snr, who represented Edwin Allen High in the rural daCosta Cup competition, was a very quick and skilful defender who was a nightmare for attacking players.

Ironically, their sons, Messam Jnr, who will be 18 years old in October, and Young Jnr, who turned 16 in May, are playing reverse roles with great effect in their young football careers.

Young Jnr is a skilful defender, in the mould of an Anthony ‘Baddas’ Corbett or a Durant ‘Tatty’ Brown, mopping up the St George’s College back line with a poise and ease beyond his years.

Meanwhile Messam Jnr, standing at 6’2″, is a terror for opposing defenders, as Kingston Technical found out when he notched a three-timer in St George’s College’s 9-0 win.

Young Jnr, who started his career as a striker at Wolmer’s Boys’ School before switching to St George’s College this season, says his father’s footballing career influenced him a lot.

“It’s a lot of influence because, if it wasn’t for him probably, I wouldn’t be playing football right now. From I was born it was like it was in my blood,” said Young Jnr.

“I actually started out as a striker, but then again, me and my dad, we are two different persons so we might not play the same position,” he told the Jamaica Observer after expertly marshalling the ‘Light Blues’ back line in a 3-0 win over Ardenne High last Saturday.

“I am grasping the role of being a defender, understanding it more and more, so it’s a work in progress for me. I am more like a sweeper behind the two stoppers,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Messam Jnr, who sat out his team’s win over Ardenne because of a minor injury, revealed his dad’s influence on his footballing career is immense.

“Very much. When I was a kid he was always giving me a ball to play with and I want to carry out his profession and his dreams as well,” said Messam Jnr.

The young Messam, who cites Brazilian superstar Neymar as his idol, says his father is not perturbed that he has not turned out to be a defender as he was.

“He wasn’t disappointed at all. He actually encouraged me to play striker. I find it real fun to score goals. I am always excited whenever I watch professional football and seeing the ball going into the net. I guess that kind of drives me,” he noted.

Paul Young Jnr, who has eight subjects in Mathematics, English Language, Spanish, Social Studies, Economics, Geography, Physics and Biology, says he has no regrets in making the switch from his father’s alma mater Wolmer’s Boys’ to St George’s College.

He said: “In life we have to make decisions; maybe people won’t accept it, but we just have to do what has to be done.”

Having represented Jamaica at the Under-15 level in 2013 under Coach Fabian Davis, Young Jnr is an integral part of the St George’s set-up, and Messam Jnr welcomes him with open arms.

“He is a fun player. We communicate together very well. We have lots of fun at camps and around each other; he is a very good person,” said Messam Jnr.

“Gregory is more of the ultimate professional. If you didn’t know him, you would think he is an international-based player. He is very professional. He comes to training… what he wears and his attitude,” said Young Jnr of his new teammate.

Young Messam, who has been at St George’s College from first form, gained seven subjects in English, Mathematics, Information Technology, Biology, Spanish, English Literature and Physical Education.

The young Messam, who scored one of the three goals when St George’s won the Walker Cup 3-2 over Jamaica College last season, thinks their chances of lifting the Manning Cup this year are “very good”.

“But we are humble as always, just going through and we will try our best,” he said.

Young Jnr, whose favourite defender is Spanish international Sergio Ramos, also believes the ‘Light Blues’ are going places after rattling up three-consecutive wins. They have scored 14 goals and the young sweeper has made sure no goals have been scored against them.

“I won’t talk up our chances, but we are a very confident group and I think that together, if we work as a team, we can pull it off.”

It might not be as high-profile as Brazilian legend Pele who terrorised defenders, and ironically his son Edinho a goalkeeper, who in return, said he wanted to terrorise strikers.

But the footballing careers of Messam Snr and Young Snr are well documented in Jamaica’s football folklore, and their sons, Messam Jnr and Young Jnr, are looking to write their own chapters in schoolboy football.