Jureidini, Speid pay tribute to late Andrew Williams
Published:Friday | January 22, 2021 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Former Cavalier and Harbour View midfielder Andrew Williams, not to be confused with Andy ‘Bomber’ Williams, passed away on Monday after a long illness.
Williams was an influential player throughout the 1990s, and also represented Jamaica on occasions.
Apart from his technical qualities, Williams was also admired for his intelligence and leadership on and off the field.
“Andrew was a mature human being and an excellent footballer,” Harbour View General Manager Clyde Jureidini told The Gleaner.
“He was a club leader who captained the team. He came to Harbour View from Cavalier, and at various times got into the national team. So there is no doubt about his quality, leadership ability, and intellect as a player, and he was a very decent human being.”
Williams helped Cavalier to the National League final during the mid-’90s, before leading Harbour View to the National Federation Knockout title in 1998, and Jureidini, who was interim coach at the time, remembers how he helped the club to win that title.
“The mighty Waterhouse was trying to take all titles under coach Geoffrey Maxwell,” he said. “But in the Federation Cup, it was he and Robert ‘Ratty’ Hall who orchestrated a move down the left and scored very late in that game, to win 1-0. That is one of my good memories of him.
“But that goal exemplified the sort of intelligence, discipline, and leadership that you could depend on from Andrew Williams, on and off the field.
“He always showed the same traits of leadership, quality, intelligence, and experience.”
Jureidini says that Williams’ passing is unfortunate, especially as he had been going through a lengthy period of illnesses.
“Those illnesses took a toll on him and he passed recently. So condolences to his family and friends and the football fraternity at the passing of Andrew Williams,” Jureidini said.
Cavalier Sporting Director Rudolph Speid arrived at Cavalier at the same time Williams was on his way to Harbour View, but he recalls how influential the left-footer was.
“He played for Cavalier for a long time,” Speid said. “He was captain and one of the players who made Cavalier.
“He is what you called a midfield general. He was so influential that after he left Cavalier, they just went down.
“He always ensured that players had what they needed before games and he was loved by everybody.
“He was truly a magnificent player. He was professional in everything he did. But he had a long-term illness and although he fought bravely, he eventually succumbed.”