Moving forward without Mr Mason Greenwood
WE believe the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Reggae Boyz Head Coach Mr Steve McClaren were correct in their bid to have world-class striker Mr Mason Greenwood represent Jamaica in the upcoming final phase of World Cup qualifiers.
As it has turned out, Mr Greenwood, 23, who was born in England but has Jamaican ancestry through his mother, is as yet unprepared to commit to this country.
It means he will miss Concacaf World Cup qualifiers set to begin on Friday, with the Reggae Boyz facing Bermuda in that country.
The Jamaicans will then host Trinidad and Tobago on September 9. Curacao is the other team in the group which will be contested on a home-and-away basis.
Only the group winner will be guaranteed a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
For the local football fraternity, news of Mr Greenwood’s absence from the Reggae Boyz 26-man squad is especially disappointing since it follows his application for a Jamaican passport which he received some weeks back.
However, Mr Greenwood did represent England in a full international five years ago. He subsequently fell out of grace with that country’s football authorities because of a domestic abuse charge which was eventually dropped.
Our reporter tells us that to represent Jamaica Mr Greenwood needs an international transfer certificate from the English Football Association.
But for that to happen the player would need to sign a letter, “confirming that his change of allegiance is final and cannot be undone, which would effectively exclude him from future England squads”.
Further, according to our reporter Mr Daniel Blake: “It’s understood that this requirement has historically posed a challenge for players born in the United Kingdom who have been previously recruited by Jamaica.”
An optimistic Mr McClaren tells us that he will continue to woo Mr Greenwood with the hope that he will be available for the October window of qualifiers. However, from this distance we believe the JFF and its head coach would be well advised to simply await Mr Greenwood’s decision.
Whatever he does, we should respect.
We agree with Mr McClaren’s position that while Mr Greenwood would be a “big asset” should he come, we must not dwell on his absence.
Said Mr McClaren: “… as soon as that decision was made and he [Mr Greenwood] couldn’t commit, you move on. You don’t harp on it and don’t go ‘What if this or what if that’ — you move on and control what you can control…”
That’s a position that should be taken by everyone.
All efforts must be concentrated on getting the best out of available players who must now gel as a team much better than was the case at the Concacaf Gold Cup in mid-year.
We note the injury-enforced absences from Mr McClaren’s squad of captain and inspirational goalkeeper Mr Andre Blake, as well as on-field players Messrs Leon Bailey and Joel Latibeaudiere.
Obviously, they will be missed. But their absence will provide opportunities for others to step up.
We wish the Reggae Boyz well as they step forward to take Jamaica to its first senior men’s World Cup since 1998.
