FORMER NATIONAL youth player Newton Sterling is confident of earning a contract with Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem.

Sterling who left the island 11 days ago for a three-week trial with the club has impressed both the club executives and the wider community according to his own observations.

"I know I will be signed or at least that is the impression I get," Sterling told The Gleaner in an interview from Israel.

"I have been here a week and two days now and in that time I have scored three goals in two matches playing forward position," added the utility player.

Then 19 year-old Sterling, one of four players on trial, said his performances in training and the two practice matches he has played so far endeared him well with the local community. "I am in the newspapers here almost everyday," said Sterling.

"Last week Wednesday there was a story which said of the four players here on trial I am the best and the one the club should sign. Another paper had a report saying that when I get the ball around the 18-yard box one should expect a goal," he added.

Two of the other trialists are Israelis while the other is a Nigerian.



In demand



Besides the response, what convinces Sterling that the club wants to capture his signature is the fact that he is supposed to have a minor medical procedure done and the club is prepared to pay for it. The club, he said, is also reluctant to have him return home -even for a short time- for fear that he will go elsewhere.

The fans too are also doing their bit to convince him.

"Whenever fans see me on the road they come up to me to tell me to stay with the club," said Sterling.



Settling in



Off the field Sterling said he is doing okay. "As far as settling down is concerned I miss everybody but I will tough it out. That could change soon though as there is a situation where if you are signed to the club you are allowed to have visitors and the club would pay for this," said the player who is registered to Real Mona FC in Jamaica.

While he does not speak the local Hebrew language, Sterling said there is no communication barrier as most of the people speak some English. Additionally he is "picking up some Hebrew terms".

He is also coping well with the threat of violence due to the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis. "I think about the suicide bombing and the shootings which sometimes take place between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Where I am in Jerusalem is just about an hour's drive from Gaza.

"I think about it but I am not afraid because it is life. I am not worried at all because there is violence in Jamaica as well with the fact that there is no bombing the main difference in that regard," he explained.

If Sterling is successful in his bid to play for Hapoel Jerusalem, he would become the third Jamaican to play professionally in that country following Peter Cargill and Paul "Tegat" Davis who did so in the late 80s and early 90s.