Carl Brown

CONCERNED about the development of the sport, Carl Brown, a man who has served national football at several levels, is making a plea for a company to step up and sponsor the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Under-21 League.

Brown, who is currently employed as technical director of The Cayman Islands Football Association, said he would assist in developing young players in Jamaica, but is not interested in coaching the senior national football team again.

"We hear a lot about develop-ment and it's sad to know that the Under-21 competition, which is supposed to be the development team for the senior teams in the premier league, don't have a sponsor," lamented Brown, as he watched a Digicel Premier League match between his beloved Boys' Town and neighbours Arnett Gardens, at his hometown field at Collie Smith Drive last Sunday.

The competition was sponsored last season by Desnoes and Geddes through its worldly acclaimed drink, Pepsi, but the contract period has expired and the void remains.

"It must be a demotivating factor for the players," said Brown. "Apart from the trophy and the fact that they can move up to represent their senior teams in the premier league, there is no incentive for the youngsters."

Pointing to its importance in the overall advancement of the sport, Brown declared: "I believe the JFF has put that in perspective by ensuring that all teams in the premier league have an Under-21 team.

"They must've seen it as the way forward, this is where the feeders are going to come from."

Apart from the schoolboy Manning and daCosta Cup competitions, the Under-21 league provides an excellent practice ground for the nation's junior representatives.

Feeder system

Practically all members of the national Under-20 team, which is in the final stages of World Cup qualification, are attached to premier league outfits, especially Clarendon's Sporting Central Academy which have had up to five representatives, and West-moreland's Reno.

Additionally, it's a feeder system for the premier league teams.

Brown, also a former national captain and coach, said there needs to be greater involvement via sponsorship for sports because of its role in nation-building.

"If you look at how many of our young people are getting involved in crime at all levels, this is one way of getting them involved," he added.

"I've been in the heart of it. I know mothers who have come giving us thanks that their kids are here than elsewhere," Brown added in obvious reference to the Boys' Town institution in the tough inner-city Trench Town neighbourhood where he grew up.

The 58-year-old Brown, who won three premier league titles and nine Major League crowns, as well as a number of knockout championships in a distinguished career as player and coach at Boys' Town, gave an example of sports working against crime.

"Seven years ago I asked Minister Davies (Omar) to develop this field. The only guarantee was to reduce crime. It has worked, no big gun is going to do that more than sports."

The most successful local coach, Brown was an assistant when the Reggae Boyz qualified for France '98. He also led the Reggae Boyz to their best finish in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, third in 1993, and won two Caribbean titles.

However, he has no interest in working with the senior Boyz again.

"I don't want to come back here to work with the national senior team again," he replied when the question was pitched. "I've done five different stints."As he continued paying close attention to the match, Brown added: "I'd love to be here doing some work to help with the development of the younger ones. I believe that's where we should be developing now."

With the sort of passion that defines him, Brown shouted at talented Boys' Town midfielder Renae Lloyd, as they chased the game while trailing 1-0.

"Che, get on your bicycle man."

He went on: "I have great pride in this place, particularly when you are overseas and you take up the newspaper and see anything about Boys' Town, it gives you energy. That's what Boys' Town does, it gives you energy.

Violence

"If you look at what this place has been through in the past 15 years, with everything, all the violence that's plagued this place, it's usually a credit to everybody who's working ... Andrew Price, it's just unbelievable what he's done, to take this team from the Major League to the premier league and he has done tremendously well," Brown noted of the former player and captain, now technical director, who is walking right in his footsteps.

Brown is also convinced they can win the premier league.

"Of course they can. I've won the premier league with teams that have lesser talent. The things they need are things to motivate them, they're short on resources.

"We unfortunately live in an area that is branded and crime is probably what everybody tends to associate this place with and tend to ignore all the good people that this institution has produced."

He is now back in The Cayman Islands working.

"We're doing very good. Last year we had a very good year. We moved 22 places in the FIFA rankings and qualified for the second stage of the Digicel Caribbean Championship. It was the second time in 11 years that we were qualifying for a major tournament," he noted.

Asked if he ever got frustrated working with a team of lesser stature, given the disparity in talent and achievements he achieved on these shores, Brown said "no".

"This is what I enjoy. We've always got the ones who nobody else wanted and that's what I enjoy more than anything else, teaching people the game."