Rusea’s High’s star striker, Brian ‘Rambo’ Brown, whose goalscoring exploits were pivotal in the school’s 2011 ISSA/Gatorade /Digicel daCosta Cup success, is now in England on trial with Barclays Premier League outfit Aston Villa.
Prior to leaving the island on Thursday, the prolific Brown, who was staying away from the local Red Stripe Premier League in a bid to concentrate on his academics, said the possibility of getting a professional contract in England was the kind of chance he was not prepared to bypass.
“This is something I was hoping and praying would happen for me one day,” said Brown, who won the schoolboy ‘golden boots’ award in both 2010 and 2011. “My goal is to become a professional footballer so this is possibly the best opportunity to get myself into the big league.”
At the conclusion of the schoolboy football season late last year, Brown rejected invitations from at least three teams to play in the 2011-12 Red Stripe Premier League, stating that he wanted to concentrate on the CXC subjects he will be sitting later this year.
Scholarship
“I am doing six CXC subjects and I want to pass all six as my aim is to get a scholarship to an overseas college or university,” said Brown. “I would have to spend time training to play in the RPL and I just don’t have that amount of them to share between school and club football.”
Montego Bay United Football (MBUFC) and fellow western Jamaica outfits Reno FC and Village United were among the teams that made offers to Brown, who is the son of former Seba United star striker Brian ‘Rambo’ Brown Sr.
“We were prepared to work with him on his own terms,” said MBUFC chairman Orville Powell. “We were prepared to give him a starting position on the team without him having to follow the regular training regime … he is clearly a very special talent.”
While he still has his sights set on doing well in his CXC Examinations, that could all fall through the window if he impresses at Aston Villa and is offered an immediate contract.
“If they offer me a contract I would take it,” said Brown. “It is something I have discussed with my family and the decision is that accepting a contract would be in my best interest.”
Brown’s link with Aston Villa was facilitated by his England-based agent Barrington McIntosh, who was able to convince the club with video recordings and newspaper articles showcasing Brown’s exploits on the local schoolboy circuit over the past three years in which he tallied 63 goals.
“McIntosh came to Jamaica to watch me play in the daCosta Cup this year and he is convinced that with my talent I could make it in England,” said Brown. “I hope I will be able to justify the faith he has in my ability.”
Rusea’s assistant coach Anthony ‘Follies’ Williams is absolutely elated with the opportunity that has been opened for young Brown, and believes that he has the requisite skills to impress in England.
“This youngster is like a goal-scoring machine … he always knows where the goal is and is able to score incredible goals,” said Williams. “He is now Rusea’s all-time leading goal
