Brazil tour for new Boy

ANOTHER overseas-based player has been invited to train with the national football team. The latest invitee, however, is not an England-based player but a university student in America.

Twenty-year-old forward Sheldon Barnes confirmed yesterday that he will be headed to Brazil for a two-week training camp with the national team in preparation for their 2002 World Cup qualifiers. The Reggae Boyz are now in Morocco and will play Japan to decide third spot in the King Hassan-II four-team tournament.

"I feel honoured and happy to be given the chance or to be permitted to try out for the Reggae Boyz," a delighted Barnes told the Gleaner yesterday. "It is an opportunity to make the team and represent my country."

Barnes who grew up in Edgewater in Portmore and left the island as a 10-year-old in 1990 said he does not know how the national team got to know about him. "I guess someone mentioned my name to the coach and he called me up."

In his two years at Virginia, Barnes has steadily improved his goalscoring output netting six with five assists in his first year. He followed this up with nine and eight assists in his second year as his team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.

With the departure of Chris Albright, to whom Barnes played second fiddle, to the US Major League Soccer (MLS), Barnes is expected to lead his team's scoring. A profile on the University's had this to say about Barnes:"... has the potential to dazzle with his footwork...expected to step up his scoring this fall following the loss of Chris Albright".

This expectation of the former Wolmer's Preparatory School player would not be far-fetched. At the St Thomas Aquinas High School he set a goalscoring record of 113 goals and 71 assists in his four years. Among his other hounours are NSCAA and Parade All-American, sate player of the, led his high school to three straight state titles and two national championships. He was also named to the all-state team twice in addition to being a National honour Society, played on state and regional development football teams.

Already Barnes has acquainted himself with another invitee Tyrone Marshall of the Miami Fusion. Barnes who lives in the Miami area trains with the Fusion on holidays.

In the time that Barnes has been around Marsahll he has made an impression on the more experienced player."I think he is a good player. He has a lot of skill," Marshall said.

"He is very quick, very deceptive with his speed and has a knack for the the goal. He is a young player and I think with more professional exposure he will get better. I think as he develops he will get better at finishing as if you are going to be a forward you have to finish."

In addition to Barnes the Gleaner also learnt that invitations were extended to the trio of Ian Goodison, Theodore Whitmore and Walter Boyd to join the training camp in Brazil.

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