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The_Emperor
New Member
USA
67 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 19 2002 : 09:32:41 AM
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I was just reflecting on the world champions and their rocky qualification campaign. How the press and even their own supporters mauled them, with only a few faithful sticking by their side. The ardent supporters main “fire power” then was the fact that Brazil had a somewhat similar qualifying ordeal in 94 and became eventual champions- they warned the doubters that history will repeat itself. Questions were being dashed around, what would a world cup be like without Brazil? Will the only team to have qualified for every world cup give up that mantle? But the players believed in themselves, at least the core players did, and new they would be there and give a good account of themselves.
This reflection draws me to a parallel with my Reggaeboy hero, Stephen Shorty Malcolm. Shorty must be one of the players who had the hardest time being a Reggaeboy. He wasn’t the most technically sound, he couldn’t make up for that with no abundance of “frills and flair”, he had a size disadvantage and he did not have a lot of supporters. In fact many people think he didn’t belong in the team. However, every world class coach who came on board thought otherwise and Shorty was almost always in the team. He played more positions than Onandi Lowe and Christopher Dawes who are listed as our utility players. He did so not because he was listed as a utility player (though he proved to be) but because he was always being displaced (by Gregory Messam and Ricardo Gardner at left back, Frank Sinclair and Tyrone Marshall at right back and Fitzroy Simpson and Daryl Powell in midfield) and he wanted to play, so he fit into a different position each time.
Shorty obviously believed in himself and worked hard for what he wanted. He accepted his weaknesses and focused more on his strengths and worked hard to better them. He was a real patriot and that was evident every time he took the field and every time he spoke. His patriotism even shone through as he departed this earth- he left us in his trademarked #2 reggaeboyz jersey. Despite the doubters, his disadvantages and the competition for places on the team Stephen Shorty Malcolm through his hard work played in the biggest sporting spectacle on earth, the World Cup of football.
His is the kind of example that must be readily available to the youths of today. He should never depart from our memory and we should do what we can to encourage our youth to emulate this giant of a man.
At our annual Picnic on Saturday, July 27, 2002 at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, NY the RBSC will be honoring this great hero. There will be the staging of the inaugural RBSC Stephen Malcolm scrimmage competition (men and women are allowed to take part). There will also be a domino competition in his honor.
Do remember that the picnic is a free family fun day and open to all. all we ask is that you notify us that you will be attending by emailing Portia@reggaeboyzsc.com, mikes@reggaeboyzsc.com or yours truly at emperor@reggaeboyzsc.com. See you there!
Long Live Shorty!!#2
Blessed Love
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World Champions
