Tweet
Campbell aims whistle at World Cup
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Referee Courtney Campbell is still basking in the afterglow of his successful display at the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup held in the United States.
The 40-year-old Jamaican official had a dream run in the biennial tournament which culminated in the final between hosts USA and Mexico, which the latter won emphatically 5-0 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey on July 26.
Campbell... I'm seriously eyeing the World Cup and I'm keeping my fingers crossed
And while the Mexican camp exploded in celebration of their victory over the favourites, a fire of another description burned bright within a Jamaican.
Campbell had to pinch himself after he had completed the task few thought was possible at the outset, which was the first for a Jamaican.
But when he made the final blast on his whistle, the Jamaican FIFA referee realised he was not dreaming when his assistants, countryman Ricardo Morgan and El Salvadoran William Torres, joined him in the middle of the pitch to offer congratulations.
"It all felt great. also shaking the hands of the FIFA president 'Sepp' Blatter on the day of the Gold Cup final was something. I can't even find words to explain this," said an overjoyed Campbell.
It was a job well done, not only for Campbell, but the two other Jamaicans - Morgan and Anthony Garwood - who completed the Jamaican referees' team at the 12-team championship where the Reggae Boyz were eliminated in the first round.
Torres replaced Garwood in the final, breaking the Jamaican partnership that worked creditably in the quarter-final match-up between Mexico and Haiti and the USA-Honduras semi-final.
"He (Garwood) was not sent home because of performance, it was just decided that they wanted an assistant from another country, and it so happened that he was the one they dropped," said Campbell, a police officer of 12 years.
"I trust my two (Jamaican) assistants to the point that I don't even go on their sides of the field, so whenever they make a call I just go along with them.
"I believe they're the two best assistants in the region, because I have worked with other assistants outside of Jamaica and that level of confidence is not there," Campbell noted.
And by his tone, it is obvious the former Vere Technical student will recall his recent Gold Cup exploits long after the gleam has faded.
"It was awesome; I felt like a Jamaica politician overseas on the nation's business. You're being escorted by police everywhere, the whole experience was so special words cannot explain," noted Campbell with a chirp in his voice.
Married with four children, the five-year FIFA official said he owed his success primarily to fellow Jamaicans and former FIFA referees Peter Prendergast, Victor Stewart and assistant Dave Meikle.
"I was under instruction from Peter and his crew all the time, so I was positively guided all the way," said Campbell, who was admitted to the FIFA Referees Elite Panel back in 2004, four years after first taking up the whistle.
During his four games in charge - which included the preliminary match-up between USA and Honduras and being the fourth official in the preliminary match between USA and Grenada - Campbell was a picture of composure as he allowed play to flow.
"Those guys come to play football, it's not like in Jamaica the players want the referee to call back play for the simplest of thing. At the higher level it's different, and on many occasions you just allow play to flow," he explained.
And though he has conceded that the culture is diffrent in Jamaica, Campbell intends to apply the Gold Cup approach to the Jamaican game.
"The fans in Jamaica will have to take me to task because I'm not going to come down from that (Gold Cup) level; I'm going to stay right up there and I'm going to allow the game in Jamaica to flow," he vowed.
Campbell, known locally for his pleasant but firm demeanour, said the abusive nature of Jamaican fans served as reinforcement for his quest up the ladder of football refereeing.
"The Jamaican fans have helped to toughen me. they will hurl abuses, but I don't believe that they come with the intention to target the referees; their reaction to the officiating is more associated with the passion that goes with the game," said the affable Campbell.
Though the competence of local referees is constantly questioned, Campbell defended his colleagues: "I think we're on par with the rest of the region."
"I think we're making the transition, I believe that Jamaican referees are moving forward. Jamaica has always been competing in the region with Trinidad as far as refereeing goes, but to tell you the truth, Courtney Campbell has passed Trinidad's top guy Neil Brizan," said the lean and fleet-footed Campbell, who appears to glide across the pitch.
"If we take the instructions we get seriously and apply them on the pitch, then we'll be a force to reckon with," he added.
But what inspired him to enter refereeing?
"I wanted to represent Jamaica and I tried on the football field but was unsuccessful, so I wondered how was I going to represent my country in the area of sports and the only alternative... left... was to turn to refereeing," he said.
And for young aspiring Jamaican refs, Campbell urges them to stay focused and set lofty goals.
"If you're going to be affected by the abuses of fans, then you'll never make it. Give a deaf ear to that and concentrate on what's happening on the pitch. do your duties well and you will be rewarded," he advised.
And young refs were also pricked to try to surpass the 8.5 points Campbell and his Jamaican assistants scored in the Gold Cup quarter-final and the 8.6 in the semi-final.
Having done the top job at the CONCACAF level, Campbell's gaze is now trained on the biggest stage of all, the FIFA World Cup Final to be held in South Africa next year
"I'm seriously eyeing the World Cup and I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and should the opportunity come, I would take it with both hands," he ended.
Campbell also officiated at the 2007 Gold Cup, taking charge of two preliminary matches and a quarter-final game.
After impressive show at Gold Cup
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Referee Courtney Campbell is still basking in the afterglow of his successful display at the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup held in the United States.
The 40-year-old Jamaican official had a dream run in the biennial tournament which culminated in the final between hosts USA and Mexico, which the latter won emphatically 5-0 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey on July 26.
Campbell... I'm seriously eyeing the World Cup and I'm keeping my fingers crossed
And while the Mexican camp exploded in celebration of their victory over the favourites, a fire of another description burned bright within a Jamaican.
Campbell had to pinch himself after he had completed the task few thought was possible at the outset, which was the first for a Jamaican.
But when he made the final blast on his whistle, the Jamaican FIFA referee realised he was not dreaming when his assistants, countryman Ricardo Morgan and El Salvadoran William Torres, joined him in the middle of the pitch to offer congratulations.
"It all felt great. also shaking the hands of the FIFA president 'Sepp' Blatter on the day of the Gold Cup final was something. I can't even find words to explain this," said an overjoyed Campbell.
It was a job well done, not only for Campbell, but the two other Jamaicans - Morgan and Anthony Garwood - who completed the Jamaican referees' team at the 12-team championship where the Reggae Boyz were eliminated in the first round.
Torres replaced Garwood in the final, breaking the Jamaican partnership that worked creditably in the quarter-final match-up between Mexico and Haiti and the USA-Honduras semi-final.
"He (Garwood) was not sent home because of performance, it was just decided that they wanted an assistant from another country, and it so happened that he was the one they dropped," said Campbell, a police officer of 12 years.
"I trust my two (Jamaican) assistants to the point that I don't even go on their sides of the field, so whenever they make a call I just go along with them.
"I believe they're the two best assistants in the region, because I have worked with other assistants outside of Jamaica and that level of confidence is not there," Campbell noted.
And by his tone, it is obvious the former Vere Technical student will recall his recent Gold Cup exploits long after the gleam has faded.
"It was awesome; I felt like a Jamaica politician overseas on the nation's business. You're being escorted by police everywhere, the whole experience was so special words cannot explain," noted Campbell with a chirp in his voice.
Married with four children, the five-year FIFA official said he owed his success primarily to fellow Jamaicans and former FIFA referees Peter Prendergast, Victor Stewart and assistant Dave Meikle.
"I was under instruction from Peter and his crew all the time, so I was positively guided all the way," said Campbell, who was admitted to the FIFA Referees Elite Panel back in 2004, four years after first taking up the whistle.
During his four games in charge - which included the preliminary match-up between USA and Honduras and being the fourth official in the preliminary match between USA and Grenada - Campbell was a picture of composure as he allowed play to flow.
"Those guys come to play football, it's not like in Jamaica the players want the referee to call back play for the simplest of thing. At the higher level it's different, and on many occasions you just allow play to flow," he explained.
And though he has conceded that the culture is diffrent in Jamaica, Campbell intends to apply the Gold Cup approach to the Jamaican game.
"The fans in Jamaica will have to take me to task because I'm not going to come down from that (Gold Cup) level; I'm going to stay right up there and I'm going to allow the game in Jamaica to flow," he vowed.
Campbell, known locally for his pleasant but firm demeanour, said the abusive nature of Jamaican fans served as reinforcement for his quest up the ladder of football refereeing.
"The Jamaican fans have helped to toughen me. they will hurl abuses, but I don't believe that they come with the intention to target the referees; their reaction to the officiating is more associated with the passion that goes with the game," said the affable Campbell.
Though the competence of local referees is constantly questioned, Campbell defended his colleagues: "I think we're on par with the rest of the region."
"I think we're making the transition, I believe that Jamaican referees are moving forward. Jamaica has always been competing in the region with Trinidad as far as refereeing goes, but to tell you the truth, Courtney Campbell has passed Trinidad's top guy Neil Brizan," said the lean and fleet-footed Campbell, who appears to glide across the pitch.
"If we take the instructions we get seriously and apply them on the pitch, then we'll be a force to reckon with," he added.
But what inspired him to enter refereeing?
"I wanted to represent Jamaica and I tried on the football field but was unsuccessful, so I wondered how was I going to represent my country in the area of sports and the only alternative... left... was to turn to refereeing," he said.
And for young aspiring Jamaican refs, Campbell urges them to stay focused and set lofty goals.
"If you're going to be affected by the abuses of fans, then you'll never make it. Give a deaf ear to that and concentrate on what's happening on the pitch. do your duties well and you will be rewarded," he advised.
And young refs were also pricked to try to surpass the 8.5 points Campbell and his Jamaican assistants scored in the Gold Cup quarter-final and the 8.6 in the semi-final.
Having done the top job at the CONCACAF level, Campbell's gaze is now trained on the biggest stage of all, the FIFA World Cup Final to be held in South Africa next year
"I'm seriously eyeing the World Cup and I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and should the opportunity come, I would take it with both hands," he ended.
Campbell also officiated at the 2007 Gold Cup, taking charge of two preliminary matches and a quarter-final game.
After impressive show at Gold Cup
Comment