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Originally posted by Dunny
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Boyz concede pursuit of 17-y-o Liverpool star
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sport Editor
Thursday, November 15, 2012
THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has given up the chase for the exciting Jamaican-born Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling.
Jamaican officials on a quest in the United Kingdom to recruit players of Jamaican ancestry for the Reggae Boyz fold for the final round of the CONCACAF Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament set to start in February, had hinted days ago that a Sterling catch would be a tough feat.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden —Jamaican-born England winger Raheem Sterling dribbles by Sweden goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic ( on knees) during their international friendly match here, yesterday. Ibrahimovic scored four times in his team’s 4-2 win. (Photo: AFP)
STOCKHOLM, Sweden —Jamaican-born England winger Raheem Sterling dribbles by Sweden goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic ( on knees) during their international friendly match here, yesterday. Ibrahimovic scored four times in his team’s 4-2 win. (Photo: AFP)The youngster, who left Kingston as a five-year-old, made his full international debut as a starter for Roy Hodgson's England side that fell 4-2 to Sweden in a friendly international in Stockholm yesterday.
JFF boss, Captain Horace Burrell — who is leading a three-man mission of head coach Theodore Whitmore and assistant Alfredo Montesso to the UK — said the pursuit of Sterling became untenable, plus a chat with Hodgson provided the clincher.
"No, we are no longer pursuing Raheem Sterling. I spoke with the England manager Roy Hodgson and I was frank when I asked him if he had serious plans for the youngster and he answered in the affirmative. And based on that discussion I am satisfied that the coach was being honest.
"At the time he told me that young Sterling was in camp for the Sweden friendly and that the youngster would definitely be playing. He told me that he has plans for him as he had the right attitude, full of potential and that a lot has been invested in him," Burrell said from the UK yesterday.
When news broke that Burrell and his team were heading off to England to meet with a swath of prospective and current Reggae Boyz, the England FA appeared jittery that they could lose the explosive winger to the country of his birth, especially after the teenager had publicly noted his enthusiasm to meet with the Jamaican contingent.
Even though Sterling played in that friendly yesterday, he would still be eligible for Jamaica if he had a change of heart because it is not considered an official competitive fixture.
"The player said he will never turn his back on Jamaica and would be interested in holding football clinics in Jamaica during his off-time to help inspire young people in the country. His agents have agreed to have discussions with us with a view of making this a reality," Burrell disclosed.
The FA appeared to have beaten the Boyz to Sterling after calling up the teenager to the full England squad for the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine recently, but the youngster didn't play, thus giving hopes for a possible Jamaican capture at that time.
Hodgson was the manager at Liverpool when Sterling got his big break in club football.
But Burrell had warned that the mission to find new players on the UK front and its success would first hinge critically on the players' expression of "genuine desire to want to represent the country".
Burrell, meantime, said that "fruitful discussions and encouraging progress" have been made from meetings with other eligible players targeted to play for Jamaica.
Keeping figures and names close to his chest for the time being, the veteran football executive promised details when he completes the job and returns to Jamaica.
"What I can say is that a lot of these players are excited at the prospect of playing for Jamaica, while there are others who have not shown the kind of commitment that we are looking for and we won't be waiting on anyone. But it has gone well here and I will have more to say on that when I return," he told the Jamaica Observer.
Prior to departing Jamaica, the nine players with Jamaican roots that the JFF team had targeted on their 12-day mission are Reading midfielder and captain Jobi McAnuff (31); 29-year-old striker Jermaine Beckford (Huddersfield Town); 25-year-old winger Gareth McCleary; Queen's Park Rangers' 22-year-old winger David Hoilett; Derby County's 23-year-old striker Theo Robinson; Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson (25), and 27-year-old teammate, defender James Perch.
Burrell and the touring team also met with existing Boyz playing in the UK, and were scheduled to visit yesterday with standout midfielder Rodolph Austin who sustained an injury in a Championship game against Watford on the weekend.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2CKRzUpkP
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