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LA academy drafts teen with Jamaican links
published: Thursday | March 22, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody>
Bowen ... ended up impressing the Galaxy coaching staff. - Contributed
Gordon Williams, Contributor
A TEENAGER with strong Jamaican links has become the first player drafted into a new youth academy being launched by one of the top professional football clubs in the United States.
Sixteen-year-old forward Tristan Bowen, who was born in the U.S., but whose parents Vernal Bowen and Sophia Craig are from Kingston, was selected during open tryouts for about 800 players conducted last month by the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
The teenager was one of three selected, but the other two, both over 18, were later released by the club too young to sign a professional contract with Galaxy, Bowen welcomed the start to what he is hoping will be a promising career.
"It's definitely something I want," Bowen, a long-time Galaxy fan, said.
The teenager is the first player to be included in Galaxy Rios (GR), which is set for official launch next month. It will begin with two-year development teams - GR Under-15 and GR Under-18 - starting next year.
The club's aim under GR is "to develop an elite group of players who we feel have the potential to become the next Landon Donovan or Cobi Jones," said Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas. He explained that GR's success will be measured by players who move on to the professional level.
Donovan and Jones have represented Galaxy and the U.S. many times, including multiple World Cups. Reggae Boyz utility player Tyrone Marshall has also been a stalwart for the club in recent years.
Test against older players
Because of his age, Galaxy said Bowen, who turned 16 in late January, should not have participated in the tryouts, organised for players 18 and over. Bowen said he was aware of the restriction, but needed to test himself.
"I just wanted to see how I would compete against the older guys," the teen explained.
Yet, he never doubted his own ability to excel against them.
"Because of my training, age is not a factor for me," Bowen said. "It's about skill."
He ended up impressing the Galaxy coaching staff.
"Tristan's a clever kid and he was somehow able to sneak into our open tryouts," said Lalas. "By the time we discovered he was only 16 years old he was already through to the final round.
"At the end of the day, our coaching staff thought he was the best player on the field," added the former defender, who got his first cap for the U.S. while current Jamaica technical director Bora Milutinovic was in charge of America's national team.
"That says a lot about his talent and his potential."
Bowen grew up in the Los Angeles area and began playing recreational football in 2000. He has represented local clubs in youth and adult leagues.
Bowen also played at Chatsworth High School with his brother Travis. Now the 5' 11" 165-pound player is being schooled at home to accommodate his football ambitions.
"It was the best decision to make," he explained. "To focus on my training and avoid distractions."
Although Bowen has never been to Jamaica, he said he watches the national team play "all the time". Yet, he did not commit to representing the Reggae Boyz in the future.
"I haven't thought about it," he said. "Anything can happen. I haven't ruled it out." <HR>Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States</DIV>
published: Thursday | March 22, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody>
Bowen ... ended up impressing the Galaxy coaching staff. - Contributed
Gordon Williams, Contributor
A TEENAGER with strong Jamaican links has become the first player drafted into a new youth academy being launched by one of the top professional football clubs in the United States.
Sixteen-year-old forward Tristan Bowen, who was born in the U.S., but whose parents Vernal Bowen and Sophia Craig are from Kingston, was selected during open tryouts for about 800 players conducted last month by the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
The teenager was one of three selected, but the other two, both over 18, were later released by the club too young to sign a professional contract with Galaxy, Bowen welcomed the start to what he is hoping will be a promising career.
"It's definitely something I want," Bowen, a long-time Galaxy fan, said.
The teenager is the first player to be included in Galaxy Rios (GR), which is set for official launch next month. It will begin with two-year development teams - GR Under-15 and GR Under-18 - starting next year.
The club's aim under GR is "to develop an elite group of players who we feel have the potential to become the next Landon Donovan or Cobi Jones," said Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas. He explained that GR's success will be measured by players who move on to the professional level.
Donovan and Jones have represented Galaxy and the U.S. many times, including multiple World Cups. Reggae Boyz utility player Tyrone Marshall has also been a stalwart for the club in recent years.
Test against older players
Because of his age, Galaxy said Bowen, who turned 16 in late January, should not have participated in the tryouts, organised for players 18 and over. Bowen said he was aware of the restriction, but needed to test himself.
"I just wanted to see how I would compete against the older guys," the teen explained.
Yet, he never doubted his own ability to excel against them.
"Because of my training, age is not a factor for me," Bowen said. "It's about skill."
He ended up impressing the Galaxy coaching staff.
"Tristan's a clever kid and he was somehow able to sneak into our open tryouts," said Lalas. "By the time we discovered he was only 16 years old he was already through to the final round.
"At the end of the day, our coaching staff thought he was the best player on the field," added the former defender, who got his first cap for the U.S. while current Jamaica technical director Bora Milutinovic was in charge of America's national team.
"That says a lot about his talent and his potential."
Bowen grew up in the Los Angeles area and began playing recreational football in 2000. He has represented local clubs in youth and adult leagues.
Bowen also played at Chatsworth High School with his brother Travis. Now the 5' 11" 165-pound player is being schooled at home to accommodate his football ambitions.
"It was the best decision to make," he explained. "To focus on my training and avoid distractions."
Although Bowen has never been to Jamaica, he said he watches the national team play "all the time". Yet, he did not commit to representing the Reggae Boyz in the future.
"I haven't thought about it," he said. "Anything can happen. I haven't ruled it out." <HR>Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States</DIV>
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