Sport

Sunderland want Reggae Boy Ralph

By NODLEY WRIGHT, Freelance Writer

Damani Ralph - file

NATIONAL STRIKER DAMANI Ralph could be making another move to a European club, his second in just under six months.

In March, Ralph made a move from the MLS after his second season to Russian club Rubin Kazan and according to website Planetfootball, he could be on the move one more, this time to the English Premier League.

According to a report on the website, Mick McCarthy manager of the newly-promoted Sunderland, is hoping to bring two Russia-based players to his club to lend experience to his strike force. Besides Ralph, McCarthy was said to be interested in Estonia international Andres Oper who represents Torpedo Moscow.

While the report indicated Torpedo Moscow's willingness to part with Oper, Rubin Kazan insisted that Ralph would be staying put.

"The English club made a good offer but we don't intend to let Ralph go," Kurban Berdyev was quoted as saying of the player who has found the net once so far in 12 games.

The 25-year-old Ralph, a former student of St. George's proved to be a hit in his two years of MLS football with Chicago Fire where he played alongside recently-retired countryman Andy Williams. In his first season he broke the rookie scoring record with 11 goals and was duly named rookie of the year. In his second season he was slightly less successful, with nine goals.

English dream

While taking the road less travelled to Europe by his countrymen, England is still a dream for the powerfully-built six-footer who strikes the ball well with either foot.

"I live my life my way," said Ralph in a recent interview. "Everybody wants to play in England but, in life, everything doesn't go the way you want it.

"For some people, England is where they're supposed to be and they get the opportunity. For me, a next good opportunity has come for me in Russia."

Most recently, Ralph who opened his scoring account for Jamaica in a World up qualifier against Panama, was involved in the Gold Cup qualifiers where Jamaica were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the United States.