Ziadie hangs up his boots

GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

Former Jamaica defender Craig Ziadie has ended his brief quest to return to professional football.

Ziadie, 29, recently joined the training camp of Real Salt Lake (RSL), the Major League Soccer club in the United States after more than three years absence from the MLS.

But his attempted comeback did not materialise as the club decided not to sign him for the upcoming season, which begins later this month.

"We will not offer him a contract with the club," John Koluder, RSL senior manager of media relations, confirmed yesterday.

According to Ziadie, the club, which has Andy Williams, another former member of the Reggae Boyz under contract, cited salary cap and roster restrictions for its decision, which was made before it returned to its home state of Utah on Saturday.

Ziadie last played in the MLS and for Jamaica in 2004. The youngest of the Ziadie clan, which represented Jamaica in football, was born in the US, but was raised in Kingston. He attended high school and university in the US before being drafted by DC United in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft where he became starter, mostly at right back. In 2002, he was traded to the then New York MetroStars (now New York Red Bull) where he also first choice. In the 2004, MLS Expansion Draft he was taken by Chivas USA, but did not join the team in California. By then, he said, he was having second thoughts about the expected MLS rewards. He also had personal goals he wanted to pursue and his estimated MLS salary of less than US$40,000 was not enough incentive for him to stay. The added uncertainty of not knowing if he would be traded again did not help either.

"I didn't really like the West Coast," he said yesterday. "It's more expensive. And I wanted to start a family. I needed to get on my feet. We needed stability."

So Ziadie quit the MLS, although he kept active playing in local Florida recreational leagues. Since 2005 he has been involved in a real estate appraisal and investing business in Florida. Yet when RSL decided to hold camp near his home his desire for the competition made the opportunity seem too good to pass up.

"They came to Florida and I live here," he said. "I was interested. I missed playing again."

Below fitness

Ziadie, despite admitting being below fitness needed at the professional level, ended up participating in a few practice games. Williams thought he was doing well, even after being away from the MLS so long, and had a legitimate chance of making the team.

"To me, he hasn't lost it at all," said Williams last week. "The coaches are impressed ... I don't know why he stopped in the first place."

However, Ziadie said RSL "had a lot of defenders" and it would have been difficult for him to stick with the team. Furthermore, unless the club offered an impossible-to-resist salary package, he would not be willing to relocate to Utah.

"It would have been difficult for me to move," said Ziadie.

The issue became even more complicated last week when Ziadie had to leave camp a few times to see his wife who was expecting the couple's first child. A son, Jordan, was born last Wednesday, but the trips between home and camp, plus long nights assisting with the baby, took their toll.

"It was back and forth during training," he said. "It was hard. I missed a couple days."

Ziadie returned to play in a practice game against the Colorado Rapids, another MLS team, in Florida on Friday night, and a local college team the following morning. He was pleased about his overall showing with RSL.

"I thought I did well," he said. "I felt more comfortable as it went on ... It was fun playing with them."

When he got the bad news from the club Ziadie said he was not upset. He claims to have had a satisfying run at top-level football.

"When I look back at it, I have no regrets at all," he explained. "I definitely made the right decision (to stop). I am happy where I am."

The RSL experience just provided the curtain call.

"Officially," Ziadie said. "I had a closing."

Good enough

Or did he? Yesterday Williams said after speaking to Ziadie on Saturday he was unsure if he would try to hook up with another MLS club, although he believes his former national teammate is good enough.

"I think he should have made it (at RSL)," he said, "but it's up to the coaching staff."

Ziadie said he may consider coaching, but for now will continue to play recreational football with his older brothers Chris and Nick, who have both represented Jamaica before. The three are sons of the late Dennis Ziadie, who also played professional football in the U.S. and represented Jamaica. He died in a road crash in Mexico while attending the World Cup in 1986.

Craig Ziadie, who began duties with the Reggae Boyz in 2002 after spending some time deciding whether to play for Jamaica or make himself available for the US, earned praise for being a smart player with composed, clinical performances, although he was criticised for lack of pace. He made more than 20 appearances for Jamaica, including the failed 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ziadie admitted he would consider playing professionally again, but only if the situation is right. Miami FC, which plays in the US 'A' League, a notch below the MLS, but close enough to Ziadie's home, is tempting.

"It would be a lot more convenient for me since I live here," he said. "The 'A' League season is not that long and they don't travel that much.

"You can never say never," Ziadie mused, "but we'll see."

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.