Sunday Chat - A triumph over adversity

Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

LIVING IN the 'ghetto' was no bed of roses for 24-year-old international football player Oneil Thompson.

Faced with innumerable challenges, the budding football star used his God-given talent to break away from the negative influences of his surroundings and has now carved his own niche in local and international football.

Thompson grew up in the troubled and volatile community of Trench Town, more commonly known as Rema. In January of this year, Thompson signed a one-year contract with Notodden Football Club, a Division One team in Norway. Based on his outstanding performances, Thompson's contract was extended for an additional two years.

As he recounted his journey from rags to riches, one could not help but sense the immense pain and struggle that this young man encountered during his formative years.

The second of nine children born to Salome McKenzie and Michael Thompson, Oneil did not focus much on academics.

Early signs

From an early age, while kicking stones and bottles in his community, Thompson said he knew that one day he would become a top-flight football player.

"Being at this level is not a surprise to me. While attending school I would tell my friends that I was going to become successful playing football both locally and internationally," Thompson said.

Thompson began his educational journey at Boys' Town All-Age and later moved on to Vere Technical High and Bridgeport High. The move to Vere Technical should have been a refuge for young Thompson but because of financial difficulties he was unable to continue his sojourn at the institution.

"While attending Vere, the support wasn't there. A few people tried to help but they also had other people to help as well. I was transferred to Bridgeport High, which was much closer," he said.

Thompson began attending Bridgeport in 1999 and in 2000 was drafted into the school's Manning Cup squad. His glory days began during the 2000-2001 Manning Cup season when he scored the lone goal in the final which saw Bridgeport claim the coveted Manning Cup trophy.

Thompson's performance in the Cup motivated him to reach for greate>"From then I told myself that I had to take football to a higher level. When you look in the ghetto not many people from these areas exposed to other places. It is not that they cannot do it but it all comes down to support and sacrifice," he said.

Because of his pioneering accomplishments, people in his community made him feel special. Thompson became a hero and many youngsters in his community looked to him as a source of inspiration.

Despite all the recognition, the humble and focused young man did not want to be treated differently.

"There should not be any difference when you look at it. People from other places are more relaxed in which they do not have much to worry about. When you live in the ghetto so many things happen around you it is hard to concentrate," he said.

It was extremely frustrating for young Thompson as he looked outside his circle and saw the class division within the Jamaican society.

"Some times we did not have electricity for three to fours days. Some times if you want to watch a movie there were over 40 people watching the same television. It was a lot to deal with," he said.

Because of these observations it was not easy for Thompson to stay focused on his dreams. Negative influences were all round him, and while not professing to be an angel, he stated, "we do good things and things that we shouldn't have done, but at the end of the day there is nothing that I have done that I regret today whether good or bad because it has made me into who I am.

"Whatever you have to do to survive has to be done," he said. "Some times people go to their beds and they do not know where food is coming from. Some times a mother can only buy one food and she has three or four children and everybody has to eat from the same plate," he said.

Calm and humble

In any event, Thompson remained calm and humble. "You have to take it and try to motivate yourself and at the same time not everyone has a strong mind and is strong enough to do it.

"I waited for my turn, which has paid off greatly, and greater days are still to come."

While attending school, Andrew Price, coach of Cash Plus Premier League side Boys' Town took Thompson under his wing. Under Price's guidance Thompson had his sights set on playing for the national team.

"You see it happen a lot of times where a good player, after finishing playing football, has to find a normal job. I did not want to be the best player and not get anything from the game," he said.

"Boys' Town is one of the greatest places. If I could have stayed at Boys' Town and achieved all of what I wanted then there would be no other place to go. Boys' Town have offered their best to me."

As a result of his stellar performances at the club level, Thompson was drafted into the national football programme in 2002. He played for both the junior and senior teams under the watchful eyes of former national coaches Carl Brown, Wendell Downswell and the late Peter Cargill.

"Basically everybody who plays football has the hope of representing their country. When you reach the stage of playing for your country you are exposed to the world which is the most precious thing a footballer could hope for," he said.

He attributes consistency and determination as the criteria that allowed him the opportunity to be on the national team. He said there are many good football players his age in Jamaica, but it was those who wanted it the most that succeeded.

"When you attend training, 40 persons will turn out but after the next session, maybe only five or six will turn out on a regular basis. These persons move on to form the nucleus of the team," he said.

Difficult transition

The transitional period for Thompson from national to international player status has not been easy either.

"I haven't reached anywhere yet at the international level. Signing with Notodden is just the start of it. Andrew Price has done his best but it is up to the sponsors to support us as players," he said.

Sponsors will contemplate whether they will sponsor a player and how they will benefit because if they are not guaranteed to make $1 from 50 cents they not going to do it. But some times we put out even more effort because we have to show that we appreciate what they have done and not just by mouth."

Thompson's stay at Notodden has had its challenges but he has not forgotten his roots. During the past year, according to Thompson, living in Norway was one of his better years and also one of his worst.

As a result of the decline in Jamaica's international fixture, his trainers inquired about his exclusion from the national team.

He also had to deal with leaving behind his family and the loss of childhood friend Lindel Howell.

"They have asked me why is it that they (then JFF) have not contacted me for any matches. Some times when you feel like you are taking one step forward, it is as if you are taking two steps backwards. But based on my performance, they have accepted me in Norway as more than a Jamaican," he said.

Thompson's dry season on the national level was broken when he was called by the new Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) regime to join the Reggae Boyz for the two international friendlies that were played against El Salvador last Sunday and Guatemala on Wednesday at the National Stadium.

"It felt good as a Jamaican and as a football player to see the joy on the faces of the spectators. The supporters had high expectations from us players and I was happy that we delivered. It was wonderful seeing so many people inside the stadium," he said.