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Garfield Reid on comeback trail
Reid on comeback trail
Garfield Reid kicks a ball during a Reggae Boyz training session at Boys' Town last August. Reid says he is anxious to return to the national side. - ricardo makyn
GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor
The window of opportunity for many local-based footballers pushing for a spot on Bora Milutinovic's World Cup qualifying squad is rapidly closing following a string of poor results by the Reggae Boyz.
But one player is hustling to squeeze his way into the Serb's plans for the 'Back to Africa' campaign, which begins early next year, before it slams shut.
Left fullback Garfield Reid, who played in Jamaica's last, failed World Cup qualifying campaign, is on the comeback trail from injury which has kept him out of the game since January. He is desperate to complete his rehabilitation to start the National Premier League (NPL) season with his club Waterhouse after he strained the ligaments in his right knee during an NPL match, and remind Milutinovic that there is still local-based talent he needs to seriously consider.
Racing against the clock
"I think I am in a race with the clock," said the 26-year-old as he returned to the island on Saturday after getting treatment in the United States. "But right now I am trying to beat the clock, to get back definitely. I just want to show Jamaica, my friends, my fans, my family, what I really, really can do to help this (national) team to be on top."
Reid, known for his nifty surges down the flanks and a powerful left-foot shot, said he hopes to hit top form after a handful of NPL games to convince Milutinovic he is ready to return to the national set-up - even if it takes some unusual methods.
"I am going to go back to try to get my position back from whosoever it may be," said Reid, who has played professionally in Norway and has been to trials with clubs in Europe and North America. "I definitely will be going to training whenever. Even if I am not in the team or what, I'm definitely going to training same way."
Jamaica, loaded with players from local leagues as Milutinovic bids to find complementary parts to support the Boyz's overseas-based professionals, have been beaten by lowly ranked teams such as Vietnam and Malaysia, and outclassed by Switzerland and Iran.
Those results have convinced local football bosses that many of those competing in the island are not ready for top-level football. With the qualifiers for South Africa 2010 approaching, even Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Crenston Boxhill has conceded that the time for experimenting primarily with the home-based talent is over.
Yet Reid, who not long ago seemed a fixture at left back, is hoping to change their minds. According to the St. Catherine native, the ligaments had been torn before, when he was hit by a car while in his mid-teens.
The mishap in January caused huge swelling. He went to Atlanta where doctors did a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test and diagnosed the injury as strained ligaments. They outlined a rehabilitation programme which includes squats, jogging and icing after every run.
Reid said he will join Waterhouse's preseason camp. His target is the NPL kick-off in September.
"I might not be 100 per cent," he said, "but I'm gonna get to 100 per cent before maybe the first five games."
Painful recovery
Yet Reid admitted his recovery has been slow and painful, and not just physically. He has played in games where the Boyz have been drubbed, including the 6-0 thrashing by England and a 5-0 hammering by Australia.
Meanwhile, his disciplinary record has not been spotless either. He received an ill-timed ejection in the last World Cup campaign against Haiti and was fined a portion of his match fees for violating team rules in England last year.
Reid said he has learned his lesson and expressed disappointment being sidelined while Jamaica lost to teams like Vietnam and Malaysia. But that has not shaken his confidence.
"It does make me feel bad within myself knowing that I am not there with the team to help," said Reid, whose ability gave national coaches enough confidence to use him at left back while pushing regular starter Ricardo Gardner into the midfield when the youngster from Charlemont first stepped into the senior squad from the under-23s.
"But what can I do? It's up to the Lord to just help me. I'm here sitting down watching these guys playing on my television. I know, with me going back to training to show them what I can do, I'll definitely put 100 per cent into it and definitely get back into the team."
Reid said he has not met or spoken with Milutinovic. However, he said the JFF's management is aware of his injury. And if he does return to the Reggae Boyz, he plans to bring the full armoury of his talent as well.
"My pace, my ability to pass the ball, my ability to shoot, all that stuff, I know that is an advantage to me against most of the guys playing in the team," said Reid, who also admitted that a successful run with the Reggae Boyz will also boost his chances of landing a professional contract overseas.
"I'm a very strong left-footer. I can count on my fingers how many guys can kick that ball as hard as me."
He is hoping that Milutinovic will be counting on him as well.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
Garfield Reid kicks a ball during a Reggae Boyz training session at Boys' Town last August. Reid says he is anxious to return to the national side. - ricardo makyn
GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor
The window of opportunity for many local-based footballers pushing for a spot on Bora Milutinovic's World Cup qualifying squad is rapidly closing following a string of poor results by the Reggae Boyz.
But one player is hustling to squeeze his way into the Serb's plans for the 'Back to Africa' campaign, which begins early next year, before it slams shut.
Left fullback Garfield Reid, who played in Jamaica's last, failed World Cup qualifying campaign, is on the comeback trail from injury which has kept him out of the game since January. He is desperate to complete his rehabilitation to start the National Premier League (NPL) season with his club Waterhouse after he strained the ligaments in his right knee during an NPL match, and remind Milutinovic that there is still local-based talent he needs to seriously consider.
Racing against the clock
"I think I am in a race with the clock," said the 26-year-old as he returned to the island on Saturday after getting treatment in the United States. "But right now I am trying to beat the clock, to get back definitely. I just want to show Jamaica, my friends, my fans, my family, what I really, really can do to help this (national) team to be on top."
Reid, known for his nifty surges down the flanks and a powerful left-foot shot, said he hopes to hit top form after a handful of NPL games to convince Milutinovic he is ready to return to the national set-up - even if it takes some unusual methods.
"I am going to go back to try to get my position back from whosoever it may be," said Reid, who has played professionally in Norway and has been to trials with clubs in Europe and North America. "I definitely will be going to training whenever. Even if I am not in the team or what, I'm definitely going to training same way."
Jamaica, loaded with players from local leagues as Milutinovic bids to find complementary parts to support the Boyz's overseas-based professionals, have been beaten by lowly ranked teams such as Vietnam and Malaysia, and outclassed by Switzerland and Iran.
Those results have convinced local football bosses that many of those competing in the island are not ready for top-level football. With the qualifiers for South Africa 2010 approaching, even Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Crenston Boxhill has conceded that the time for experimenting primarily with the home-based talent is over.
Yet Reid, who not long ago seemed a fixture at left back, is hoping to change their minds. According to the St. Catherine native, the ligaments had been torn before, when he was hit by a car while in his mid-teens.
The mishap in January caused huge swelling. He went to Atlanta where doctors did a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test and diagnosed the injury as strained ligaments. They outlined a rehabilitation programme which includes squats, jogging and icing after every run.
Reid said he will join Waterhouse's preseason camp. His target is the NPL kick-off in September.
"I might not be 100 per cent," he said, "but I'm gonna get to 100 per cent before maybe the first five games."
Painful recovery
Yet Reid admitted his recovery has been slow and painful, and not just physically. He has played in games where the Boyz have been drubbed, including the 6-0 thrashing by England and a 5-0 hammering by Australia.
Meanwhile, his disciplinary record has not been spotless either. He received an ill-timed ejection in the last World Cup campaign against Haiti and was fined a portion of his match fees for violating team rules in England last year.
Reid said he has learned his lesson and expressed disappointment being sidelined while Jamaica lost to teams like Vietnam and Malaysia. But that has not shaken his confidence.
"It does make me feel bad within myself knowing that I am not there with the team to help," said Reid, whose ability gave national coaches enough confidence to use him at left back while pushing regular starter Ricardo Gardner into the midfield when the youngster from Charlemont first stepped into the senior squad from the under-23s.
"But what can I do? It's up to the Lord to just help me. I'm here sitting down watching these guys playing on my television. I know, with me going back to training to show them what I can do, I'll definitely put 100 per cent into it and definitely get back into the team."
Reid said he has not met or spoken with Milutinovic. However, he said the JFF's management is aware of his injury. And if he does return to the Reggae Boyz, he plans to bring the full armoury of his talent as well.
"My pace, my ability to pass the ball, my ability to shoot, all that stuff, I know that is an advantage to me against most of the guys playing in the team," said Reid, who also admitted that a successful run with the Reggae Boyz will also boost his chances of landing a professional contract overseas.
"I'm a very strong left-footer. I can count on my fingers how many guys can kick that ball as hard as me."
He is hoping that Milutinovic will be counting on him as well.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
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