Warlord says national call-up justified
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
White ... "There is a very soft side to the Warlord." - LeVaughn Flynn
"WAAARR," was the familiar cry echoing from the stands, signalling that Craig White is in the building. A few Arnett Gardens fans, White's Premier League club, journeyed on bicycles to see the hard-nosed defender in practise with the national team yesterday at the National Stadium.
White and 21 other local-based players are battling for nine spots to make it on the roster against Costa Rica next Wednesday in an international friendly at 'The Office'.
The Warlord, as he is known in football circles, is the sport's journeyman, having played with Constant Spring, Tivoli Gardens, Waterhouse, Maverley, and now Arnett Gardens - "Most of the garrison teams," as he puts it.
A father of two, White said he first played in the premier league in 1993 with Maverley, while a student at a Meadowbrook High.
"I grew up in a housing scheme called Glendale, which is close to Maverley, suh a suh mi start play with them," recalled White.
Now a national invitee, White is playing with the same zeal he has shown throughout his career and says anything is possible for the future.
Finally!
StarSports: You're 31 now, how do you feel about getting your first national call-up at this stage?
Craig White: Justified. I've spent my whole life playing football in Jamaica. Win two champion-ships with Waterhouse (1997 & 2006) and mi si other players get pick and them team don't' even reach nowhere. It just feel justifiable to si people de si mi and regard mi work as good work.
SS: How realistic do you think your chance is of making the side?
CW: Football carries a lot of fortunes and misfortunes so you don't know who is going to get injured abroad and who going to twist them ankle locally. So at the end of day is just put out u all and try to impress the coaches. Just like how mi can get pick at the age of 31 mi can get pick in a starting 11 sooner or later, so mi still have hope and still believe.
SS: What grade would you give yourself out of 10 since training started Monday?
CW: Probably an eight or eight and a half. Mi nuh really want put a mark on mi ability right now but mi a go hard?
SS: How would you describe the training with Simoes so far, and how would you compare it to anything you've experienced before?
CW: Is an international feeling this. The pace is bung-bang, bung-bang (very fast). Being around and seeing the greatness he has produced for the nation, and throughout the whole Caribbean because they started following us (after 1998 World Cup qualification), it is good getting the teachings from him now.
SS: How did you get the name Warlord?
CW: Over Waterhouse, the fans gi mi that name.
SS: Do you have anything in common with the musical Warlord, Bounty Killer?
CW: Yeah man! Mi glad u ask deh question deh. Bounty Killer a di best. Dem couldn't give me a better name. Mi love Bounty Killer Alliance.
SS: Despite having the name Warlord, does that name accurately describe you?
CW: When everybody seh Warlord, them figure warmonger - but is just on the football field. Sometimes the aggression is there off the football field, but mi know how fi control it, enuh. There is a very soft side to Craig White.
SS: In 2006 when Waterhouse closed out the season strongly to win the National Premier League title, what was the secret to that success?
CW: The secret to that success was the togetherness of the players and the belief, enuh. Coach (Wayne) Fairclough did have a godliness 'bout him. Him always talk 'bout greatness and seh even we greater than him. Him kinda put wi above wi limit so we a think higher than how we normally think.
SS: Do you think a second call-up is in the offing?
CW: Mi nah stop work. Two days leave and mi always a go play and represent the game the right way so mi leave miself open up for more calls down the line.
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
White ... "There is a very soft side to the Warlord." - LeVaughn Flynn
"WAAARR," was the familiar cry echoing from the stands, signalling that Craig White is in the building. A few Arnett Gardens fans, White's Premier League club, journeyed on bicycles to see the hard-nosed defender in practise with the national team yesterday at the National Stadium.
White and 21 other local-based players are battling for nine spots to make it on the roster against Costa Rica next Wednesday in an international friendly at 'The Office'.
The Warlord, as he is known in football circles, is the sport's journeyman, having played with Constant Spring, Tivoli Gardens, Waterhouse, Maverley, and now Arnett Gardens - "Most of the garrison teams," as he puts it.
A father of two, White said he first played in the premier league in 1993 with Maverley, while a student at a Meadowbrook High.
"I grew up in a housing scheme called Glendale, which is close to Maverley, suh a suh mi start play with them," recalled White.
Now a national invitee, White is playing with the same zeal he has shown throughout his career and says anything is possible for the future.
Finally!
StarSports: You're 31 now, how do you feel about getting your first national call-up at this stage?
Craig White: Justified. I've spent my whole life playing football in Jamaica. Win two champion-ships with Waterhouse (1997 & 2006) and mi si other players get pick and them team don't' even reach nowhere. It just feel justifiable to si people de si mi and regard mi work as good work.
SS: How realistic do you think your chance is of making the side?
CW: Football carries a lot of fortunes and misfortunes so you don't know who is going to get injured abroad and who going to twist them ankle locally. So at the end of day is just put out u all and try to impress the coaches. Just like how mi can get pick at the age of 31 mi can get pick in a starting 11 sooner or later, so mi still have hope and still believe.
SS: What grade would you give yourself out of 10 since training started Monday?
CW: Probably an eight or eight and a half. Mi nuh really want put a mark on mi ability right now but mi a go hard?
SS: How would you describe the training with Simoes so far, and how would you compare it to anything you've experienced before?
CW: Is an international feeling this. The pace is bung-bang, bung-bang (very fast). Being around and seeing the greatness he has produced for the nation, and throughout the whole Caribbean because they started following us (after 1998 World Cup qualification), it is good getting the teachings from him now.
SS: How did you get the name Warlord?
CW: Over Waterhouse, the fans gi mi that name.
SS: Do you have anything in common with the musical Warlord, Bounty Killer?
CW: Yeah man! Mi glad u ask deh question deh. Bounty Killer a di best. Dem couldn't give me a better name. Mi love Bounty Killer Alliance.
SS: Despite having the name Warlord, does that name accurately describe you?
CW: When everybody seh Warlord, them figure warmonger - but is just on the football field. Sometimes the aggression is there off the football field, but mi know how fi control it, enuh. There is a very soft side to Craig White.
SS: In 2006 when Waterhouse closed out the season strongly to win the National Premier League title, what was the secret to that success?
CW: The secret to that success was the togetherness of the players and the belief, enuh. Coach (Wayne) Fairclough did have a godliness 'bout him. Him always talk 'bout greatness and seh even we greater than him. Him kinda put wi above wi limit so we a think higher than how we normally think.
SS: Do you think a second call-up is in the offing?
CW: Mi nah stop work. Two days leave and mi always a go play and represent the game the right way so mi leave miself open up for more calls down the line.
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