It’s FIFA World Cup Football Season and a young Guyanese footballer Jeremy Garett, though not in Russia flying the Golden Arrowhead high, is currently doing so and impressing elsewhere as at the United States Pro Football Club DC United on his current stint there.
Garett, after being invited for a try-out in May, made the cut to join the club’s Under – 23 summer programme and is acquitting himself quite well.
This revelation was made by one of the club’s Under 19 and 23 academy coaches, Nate Kish.
Kish, who was hired by the club to spearhead the 2018 summer programme, says that the 18-year-old Guyanese has the ideal ingredients to make it to the next level.
He spoke fondly of his physical attributes, evident experience and his ability to gel with the team.
“I believe that he has the potential to make it at the next level if he continues to take steps and grow in different ways as a player,” Kish mulled when asked what his projections for the centre back are.
“Jeremy has the physical profile to play at the next level. He has played at high levels [before], and we hope that he will continue to get opportunities with his club and national team to grow and mature as a player,” he said.
“Jeremy has integrated himself into the group very quickly; He looks very comfortable on the field, and he is comfortable communicating with his teammates to organize the game around him,” he added.
After crystallising Garrett’s potential, and the ease with which he integrated into his new habitat, the coach was moved to suggest that the club is already considering bringing him back to potentially make a few match appearances.
“Our U23 programme will end in July…. as most of our players attend American universities and they will report back for their pre-season camps.
“We would like to continue to monitor Jeremy’s progress with his club and the national team, and we will consider bringing him back to join the U23 team for future camps and friendlies,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Garrett, just after completing a practise session on Friday last, said he continues to be thankful for the opportunity of being a part of an MLF Elite setup.
The experience, which he revealed is an enriching one, can also benefit more young footballers back home.
“It’s a very professional set up, beyond what I had imagined… the facilities and knowledge of the coaches are more than what I imagined,’ he said.
Since being there, he has had the occasion to play in a friendly match against Baltimore Kings where, in his and the coach’s estimation, he was instrumental in a 1-1 draw.
For all that, he praised his roots and expressed gratitude to his local coach of Fruta Conquers, Samson Gilbert for the fundamentals he instilled which have helped him to cope at the highest level.
Garrett, it appears, is on the right side of his destiny as he now has many other opportunities ahead of him.
He is currently gearing up for a stint at Portuguese Third Division Club, ‘Primeiro Dezembro’, which is now owned by his agent Guyanese football icon Alex Bunbury.
There are also other zealous opportunities ahead of him. He can enrol in a university in the United States and can join DC United permanently.
All in all, whatever storyline is written, those breaks are gearing him up to be one of the staple figures of the Guyana Football Federation’s aspirations of having the senior men’s national team qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will held in North America.
