Tweet
Leading Boyz was crowning moment, says King
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports editor
Sunday, March 30, 2008
English-born Jamaica striker, Marlon King, says wearing the captain's armband against Trinidad & Tobago in a friendly international at the National Stadium last Wednesday was his crowning moment - even moreso than the goal he scored on the night.
King, who was banned by the previous Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration, has made a glorious return to playing for Jamaica after his ban was immediately lifted by the new Captain Horace Burrell-led administration that came to power back in November of last year, and the Wigan Athletic player is relishing his new lease on life.
Jamaica's Marlon King (right)attempts to dribble past Trinidad and Tobago captain, Aurtis Whitley, during their friendly match at the National Stadium last Wednesday. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
"I am very proud... to have been made captain; this is indeed a big honour for me... I enjoyed the experience, and obviously scoring makes it even better, but the final result took some of the glory away from that," he said after the 2-2 draw between the Reggae Boyz and the Soca Warriors.
King opened his team's account in the 34th minute with a trademark striker's goal, scoring on the turn with a low right-footed shot from the edge of the 18-yard box.
But the 28-year-old was a tad disappointed he was replaced at the break by Deon Burton, the hero of Jamaica's successful 1998 World Cup campaign.
"I didn't want to come off at half-time, as I believed I had more goals in me... but the coach took me off and I respect his decision as he's the one in charge," said the former Watford forward.
With regard to the Boyz's squandering a 2-0 half-time lead against their arch-rivals, King pinned it down to a learning experience.
"It was a learning curve for us as we're experimenting with the team... we're in a building process and... success does not come overnight.
"It's going to take good games and bad games for us to learn. We have to take the positives and the negatives from each game if we are to learnt and be stronger as we go forward," said the forward with the sublime first touch.
"The draw was probably a good experience for the young lads as perhaps they've never been in that situation before where everything is going so well and a game just turns against you.
"But that to me is the biggest lesson we learnt today (Wednesday)," said King, who was banned from playing for Jamaica back in 2006 after a bust-up over disciplinary issues with the previous Crenston Boxhill-led JFF.
According to King, the team took "our 2-0 lead for granted" when they should have killed the game. "Wrong decisions were made for whatever reason, but as I have said it's a learning curve. If things always go to plan then we will never learn. I know the public is disappointed. It is a bitter-sweet day for everybody," he declared.
Jamaica's other goal was scored by Tyrone Marshall, while Osei Telesford (74th minute) and skipper Aurtis Whitley (90th) scored for T&T.
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports editor
Sunday, March 30, 2008
English-born Jamaica striker, Marlon King, says wearing the captain's armband against Trinidad & Tobago in a friendly international at the National Stadium last Wednesday was his crowning moment - even moreso than the goal he scored on the night.
King, who was banned by the previous Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) administration, has made a glorious return to playing for Jamaica after his ban was immediately lifted by the new Captain Horace Burrell-led administration that came to power back in November of last year, and the Wigan Athletic player is relishing his new lease on life.
Jamaica's Marlon King (right)attempts to dribble past Trinidad and Tobago captain, Aurtis Whitley, during their friendly match at the National Stadium last Wednesday. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
"I am very proud... to have been made captain; this is indeed a big honour for me... I enjoyed the experience, and obviously scoring makes it even better, but the final result took some of the glory away from that," he said after the 2-2 draw between the Reggae Boyz and the Soca Warriors.
King opened his team's account in the 34th minute with a trademark striker's goal, scoring on the turn with a low right-footed shot from the edge of the 18-yard box.
But the 28-year-old was a tad disappointed he was replaced at the break by Deon Burton, the hero of Jamaica's successful 1998 World Cup campaign.
"I didn't want to come off at half-time, as I believed I had more goals in me... but the coach took me off and I respect his decision as he's the one in charge," said the former Watford forward.
With regard to the Boyz's squandering a 2-0 half-time lead against their arch-rivals, King pinned it down to a learning experience.
"It was a learning curve for us as we're experimenting with the team... we're in a building process and... success does not come overnight.
"It's going to take good games and bad games for us to learn. We have to take the positives and the negatives from each game if we are to learnt and be stronger as we go forward," said the forward with the sublime first touch.
"The draw was probably a good experience for the young lads as perhaps they've never been in that situation before where everything is going so well and a game just turns against you.
"But that to me is the biggest lesson we learnt today (Wednesday)," said King, who was banned from playing for Jamaica back in 2006 after a bust-up over disciplinary issues with the previous Crenston Boxhill-led JFF.
According to King, the team took "our 2-0 lead for granted" when they should have killed the game. "Wrong decisions were made for whatever reason, but as I have said it's a learning curve. If things always go to plan then we will never learn. I know the public is disappointed. It is a bitter-sweet day for everybody," he declared.
Jamaica's other goal was scored by Tyrone Marshall, while Osei Telesford (74th minute) and skipper Aurtis Whitley (90th) scored for T&T.