Jeremy Garrett aiming to score at both academics and football

By Akeem Greene

At the age of 16, Jeremy Garrett has gripped the attention of many followers in the football fraternity with this passion and discipline on the field and more so, his eloquence at the art of public speaking, an aspect where many ages alike and above has struggled.

It is those aforementioned ingredients that the young footballer is aiming to add for his recipe for success. Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after being named in the country’s senior football squad, Garrett says the selection came as a result of hard work.
“It’s a good feeling, I have been working hard so it is not anything new and I believe through hard work you get those opportunities to be called into the national team at the age of 16,” the Fruta Conquerors player stated.
He added, “I must commend the coach for accepting me, they treated me well, it’s a great experience and I’m really thankful for Coach [Jamaal] Shabazz, he has helped me improve my ability.”
The Chase Academic Foundation Student recently wrote the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) were acquired eight subjects and has now returned to the institution to engage in Caribbean Advance Proficiency Exams (CAPE) and SATs with the aim of securing a scholarship in the near future.
“I’m really looking for a scholarship to play in a college abroad and further my education as well; me staying in Guyana with the talent and education will just go to waste because I have seen it happen to others and I don’t want the same for me” the former Tucville Primary School student disclosed.
Quizzed on his academic goals, he responded saying, I’m looking to do physiotherapy, if football doesn’t happen, I always have something to fall back on.”
Garrett, who recently captained his school to the title in the Digicel’s Schools Football Championship, and was then at the helm of the National under-17 squad in their World Cup qualifiers, first made donned national colours at the age of 14 when he toured with the under-15 team to the Dominican Republic, was in admiration of Golden Jaguars defender Collin Nelson.
The footballer who himself plays in the central defence position revealed that, “I must commend the likes of Collin Nelson, playing in the defence with him, I learned a lot from him and hopefully I will play alongside him in the future; Colin has thought me how to keep time on an attacker, as it is just not about rushing him.”
The player, who was drafted into the Fruta Conquers senior team is expected to participate in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League, says that the league is great opportunity to develop players.
“The elite league is a very good oppouruntiy for most players in Guyana, last year I had CXC exams so I did not get the chance to play but I do believe it develops the players and coaches,” Garrett stated.
As the conversation neared to a close, the student who has played the game he loves since the age of eight was quizzed on what he believes the GFF can do to better nurture young talents.
His response was, “What I think is needed is for the Federation to get a programme, in other Caribbean countries there is a programme set for every year, schools are accompanied by the Federation to play football because the two go together.”
He added, “ So they need to be more organised as far I can see since I was playing football since the age of 8 and there has never been an organised tournament that runs every year , so they should try seek private business to get funding to help produce better players; they are talents in Guyana, they just need sharpening.”
Garrett ended by saying his main focus now will be producing stellar performances in the ongoing GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League and the Elite League. ([email protected])