Bailey eyeing Belgian national team
Football prodigy Leon Bailey won’t be donning the national colours until the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) demonstrates its willingness to discuss the development of youth football. Craig Butler, Bailey’s father and agent, says the JFF has ignored his calls for a meeting to chart the way forward for sustained youth development, and this, he says, continue to be the main obstacle in the talented youngster turning out for his country of birth.
“When the JFF is ready to talk to (me) about football culture and a system of development for our country’s footballers that will sustain development and offer players like Leon Bailey, Kyle Butler, Kevaughn Atkinson, Kemo Jackson, Chevaugn McLaren, Alex Marshall and others a solution that gives them a chance to be able to compete internationally with some measure of success, then they will consider putting on the national colours,” he said.
“To date, the JFF or its president have made no effort to sit and meet for a solution, and these same players are being courted by Nice, Roma, Man U, Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen, to name a few. We have opened doors in Croatia, Italy, Malta and Spain, so do not believe the world stops turning until the JFF says it must start,” he said.
NO CHOICE
Bailey has been a hot one for Belgian Club Genk and is reportedly being courted by some of the top clubs in Europe, but has made no choice to move as yet. A recent interview on ESPN.com all but declared the Belgian League star’s intention to turn his back on his native Jamaica to represent Belgium at international football, a claim that Butler has refuted. Butler insisted Bailey didn’t give an interview, as no interview is done without his consent, and that it was just sensationalist-seeking journalist trying to create an impression. Butler says Bailey and his younger brother, Kyle Butler, who is also a part of the Genk set-up, both have great aspirations to play for their country. He added that the Belgian national team is monitoring the situation closely as they are very interested in tying the future of the young winger to their squad. He said the JFF continues to ignore the situation and could soon lose out on the player as a result. “Leon might soon be gone because Jamaica has made no effort. The coach of the Belgian national team is calling him, so it’s not Leon’s fault if he does not play for Jamaica. He and Kyle want to play for their country, but if Jamaica does not want them, they have better options, he said. Meanwhile, he said both players will be moving in January to a Champions League club, where they are guaranteed first-team football. “So, by February, any chance they have of playing for Jamaica might be gone,” he said.