From rising star to spectator ... but Powell could be back
Published:Friday | July 24, 2015 | 12:00 AM
He walked out on the team just before they faced Haiti in the quarter-finals. Now, instead of being part of the dream of the first Caribbean team to lift the CONCACAF Gold Cup, defender Alvas Powell will be nothing more than a spectator when the Reggae Boyz face Mexico today.
But if the president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, has his way, the 20-year-old, who plies his trade for Portland Timbers in the US Major League, could be back wearing the black, green and gold, sooner rather than later.
While coach Winfried Schäfer has hinted that Powell does not have a future in his team, Burrell has argued that the walkout action was heavily influenced.
"The federation will appoint a committee to look at that situation as soon as the tournament is over, because this young man is only 20 years old and obviously inexperienced," Burrell told The Sunday Gleaner.
"The committee will examine and establish exactly why young Powell acted the way he did," added Burrell.
MORE TO IT
It has been widely speculated that Powell left the team due to his displeasure at not getting enough playing time, but Burrell thinks there might a bit more to it.
"It is our view that it is something deeper, and without demonising the youngster, we will appoint a committee to carry out a full investigation to determine his reasons, as we believe that there has been some influence and he, being a youngster, has turned out to be the victim," Burrell said.
"He is a young man who needs guidance. When we discover the real reason, we will deal with it befitting of the offence, but certainly, this is the time young Alvas needs our help as a federation. It is unfair to see a youngster's career be destroyed by others, and those responsible must pay the penalty," Burrell added.