Jourdaine Fletcher letting us down
THE STRUGGLES of Cornwall College schoolboy Jourdaine Fletcher to cope with transitioning from schoolboy football stardom to ‘big man’ football have dealt another painful symbolic blow to the expectations of local football fans, who have bought into the philosophy that Jamaica’s football needs an urgent and systematic infusion of youth to take the game forward.
Fletcher was the latest shining light to emerge from the highprofile schoolboy competitions, and his talent and qualities as a schoolboy convinced many that he had the fundamentals needed to take off into the professional football stratosphere.
The young striker has disappointed, not with his innate technical ability, but even more depressing is the fact that he has fallen down with his general attitude and commitment to the cause.
Fletcher’s reported discomfort at his club, Montego Bay United, where he had contractual issues, might have caused his lapse in focus and compromised his attitude towards the game that made
him a household name. It’s a lapse which apparently spiralled into flat-out lethargy and neglect of his responsibility to himself, actions which ultimately cost him his place in the national squad. The Cornwall College standout’s path is seeming to trend painfully towards him becoming yet another outstanding local schoolboy football talent set to fall by the wayside.
Fletcher has since shown some remorse for his lapse and has reached out to the national coaching staff, informing them that he is sorry and is ready to give his one hundred per cent and more. It still remains a
depressing reality the way things unfolded. Based on his clear technical ability, his eye for goal, and his general football IQ, coupled with his utterances at the end of the schoolboy season, and especially on his introduction to Premier League football, Fletcher gave the impression that he was a fearless young player, who was clear in his mind that he wanted to play football and play football only. Unfortunately, his actions have failed to speak as loudly as his words.
In one breath, the blame lies squarely with the young player, as ultimately, he and only he must show the requisite passion, hunger and desire to propel himself to the next level. The player first and foremost needs to recognise the unique opportunity that fell into his lap and the urgent need for him to grab it with both hands.
VICTIM OF THE TIMES
In another breath, Jourdaine Fletcher is a victim of the times. An entire generation of young Jamaican players, including Fletcher this season and Alex Marshall last season, grew up on negative and condemnatory rhetoric aimed at Jamaica-born and based players. Despite their friends and schoolmates telling them how great they were, the psychological damage has been done to them by repeatedly telling them over the last decade that they are not good enough amid the constant trek to England in search of players. Youngsters like Fletcher and Marshall are obviously struggling with the process of emancipating themselves from that state of mind.
Going forward, that rhetoric must radically change, and there are signs that it is already changing. Jamaican youngsters at 15, 16, 17, and 18 must be told in no uncertain terms that if they are serious about playing football, at that age they should be playing ‘big man’ football.
Their minds need adjusting from being aspiring schoolboy football stars to being real football stars.
They need to decide before they are 19 and 20 years old what they want from the game of football. Jourdaine Fletcher, at 19-plus, should have already been on his way.
Indeed, he might still be able to salvage his future in football and tap into his vast potential, but his mindset and his focus must change, and they must change now, while the door remains ajar.