Jerome is leading scorer in T&T pro league
-peeved at not being selected to senior squad
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
November 27, 2003
Guyana's national striker Randolph Jerome is happy about being the current leading goal, scorer in the Trinidad and Tobago professional football league but is peeved at not being selected to play for his own country.
The fleet-footed Jerome has booted in 21 goals in 27 games while playing for North East Stars in Trinidad, but failed to gain a place when the Guyana Football Federation released the names of a 27-man squad to go into preparation for next year's World Cup preliminaries.
The 25-year-old striker expressed disappointment at not being named in the senior squad but assured that he was still willing to make himself available if he was called to national duties.
"The GFF must have a reason for selecting me," Jerome told Stabroek Sport yesterday. "I'm very disappointed at not being a part of the senior squad but I'm still willing and will always be willing to represent my country."
The goal-hungry striker is six goals ahead of San Juan Jabloteh's Cornel Glenn and nine in front of former Trinidad national, Arnold Dwarika who now plays for W.C. Connection.
Jerren Nixon, Jerome's striking partner at North East Star is next in line with 11 goals. His performance has pushed North East Star to third in the league behind San Juan Jabloteh and W.C. Connection.
The 25-year-old, who is in his second season with the club, explained that representing one's country was an honour few athletes get bestowed upon them.
He added that Charles Pollard, Kayode McKinnon (North East Star's captain), Abassy McPherson and Cary Harris, all on contract with North East Star, were eager to represent Guyana.
Only Harris and McKinnon have been called to trials. "The greatest thing for any footballer is to play for his country," Jerome said.
He is expected back in Guyana soon to represent his club Milerock in the Kashif and Shanghai competition when he hopes to impress selectors enough to book a place in the seniors.
Earlier in the week Technical Director Neider Dos Santos had said members of the Under-23 team, fresh from competing in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers, would make up the backbone of the senior squad.
Dos Santos said that the possibility existed that the Under-23s would make up 60 to 80 percent of the senior squad.
General Secretary of the GFF, George Rutherford followed up explaining that his organisation was focusing on youth development and looking further down the road hence the composition of the senior squad.