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STAR Writer
FLORIDA, United States:
Marvin Morgan Jr found himself in a tricky position here last Tuesday.
The much talked about former schoolboy football star, who currently plays for Boys Town, was at the same hotel with Jamaica's national senior team here. Throughout his stay, Morgan bumped into Reggae Boyz who would face Colombia that night. But, as much as he wanted to, the attacking midfielder/forward knew he wouldn't be joining them in battle.
It bothered him.
"Yeah, I feel left out," Morgan said that morning, "because I see them in the (Jamaica) colours."
For the teenager popularly called "Mr. Man", his work in Florida was already done. The previous evening he was a guest player in a Jamaica high school alumni tournament staged in a stadium - ironically - next door to the one Jamaica would tackle Colombia in the big game. But by kick-off, he would already be on his way home.
Morgan was not in the plans of Jamaica's head coach Theodore Whitmore, hasn't been for months, and, it appears, may have to wait a while before he re-enters, regardless of the "hype" surrounding him the last couple years.
"I don't know about that," Morgan said when asked to explain his non-selection. "It's based on the coach's observation."
Right now, it seems, Whitmore does not need what Morgan has to offer, even as the Boyz struggle with a losing streak that Colombia extended to four.
"If he was doing the necessary he would be here (with the squad)," Whitmore explained hours before the international friendly.
" .... Marvin has a lot of potential, you know. Marvin Morgan is young ... He has a far way to go."
Yet many in Jamaica believed the 19-year-old had arrived at stardom long before he landed here to play in the alumni tournament. The buzz around Mr. Man gained momentum a couple seasons ago at St. George's College, when Morgan thrilled spectators, scored spectacular goals, led the "Light Blues" to titles, and was unofficially crowned king of schoolboy football.
Morgan was still at school when he attended tryouts with professional teams overseas. He now has an agent. Offers, he claimed without offering details, are being considered.
"Well I just have to choose the right one, you know," Morgan said. "Based on my agent, just have to work out certain things."
Still, Morgan has many Jamaicans clamouring for his immediate inclusion in the national senior team. Keener football minds have argued he is not ready for the biggest stage, insisting Morgan should work his way through the age-group levels.
Yet Morgan was drafted into the senior Reggae Boyz squad for the Digicel Caribbean Cup in late 2010. Jamaica won. Morgan scored goals. The hype escalated.
However, Mr. Man did not impress against boys during Jamaica's failed attempt to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, bowing out at the CONCACAF final round early this year. Months later he was not part of an even less impressive age-group team, Jamaica's Under-23s, which bombed out in its first group stage competition with a place in the 2012 Olympics at stake.
Whitmore believes Morgan should figure out what he hopes to accomplish in football and zero in on the sacrifices he must make to get there.
"Marvin needs to be focused," the coach explained. "Marvin needs to know what he wants and what he wants to achieve out of this and, you know, he has to have his head on his body if he wants to move forward."
That could mean shutting out the hype, which some critics claim he has bought into, along with getting bad advice. But Morgan brushed off the criticism, insisting that adulation he receives locally is the result of his efforts on the field. Furthermore, he cannot control how the public views him.
"People wouldn't say something if they don't see it," he reasoned when asked if he deserved the hype or if it was overblown.
"People say what they saw and so I deserve it. I put the hard work out there and let the people decide."
The coach, however, selects Jamaica's team. Morgan said he has not discussed his omission from the squad with Whitmore. He doesn't see the need right now.
"We never had a conversation about it," Morgan said. "But definitely I don't think there is a conversation to be had about it."
He remains disappointed not being among the Boyz. But Morgan believes the onus is on him to reclaim a place.
"Yeah, of course," he said. "Of course I can."
Morgan claims he "settled down," to have a good closing stage of last season's Digicel Premier League. The new DPL campaign begins this weekend. Morgan said he'll prove he's ready to play at the senior national level again. When that happens, according to the coach, who has announced his search for new talent, will be up to the player.
"I think only Marvin Morgan can answer that," said Whitmore. "Marvin Morgan must know what he wants and what the future holds for him."
"Mr. Man" is looking forward to the challenge.
"Yeah," he said. "Definitely."
