Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
FORMER NATIONAL football player, Peter Cargill who died tragically on Saturday is being remembered by the football fraternity as an honest person with a strong will.
Carl Brown, a former national player and coach of the Reggae Boyz who has been associated with Cargill for 31 years was obviously saddened by his death, but thought words could not tell the true story.
"It's a whole heap I want to talk about Peter Cargill. The Gleaner will have to make space," said Brown.
"He is more than a player/coach. I had Peter as a youngster growing up as a father figure in Camperdown since 1974. It has been a father figure relationship, a friend, a team-mate, his coach, my assistant. He has always been a positive person."
Brown who was Jamaica's assistant coach to the 1998 World Cup, said Cargill was a person who knew what he wanted.
"He knew exactly what he wanted from pretty early. He has been disliked and misunderstood by some, but loved by most because of his positive ways and honesty.
"That's the memory I want to keep of Peter, his honesty. He was a leader, not afraid to tell team-mates when they are stepping out of line. A father figure and good husband because of that attitude," Brown noted.
Paul Young, coach of Portmore and a team-mate of Cargill said he "was great fun to be around. He was one of the nicest guys. You can tell him anything. He was very stern and if you didn't put out your best he would be very angry," said Young.
"He was a true professional as a player and as coach," Young added.
Portia Simpson-Miller, Minister of Local Government and Sports in her tribute said "it is with a sense of utter shock and disbelief that I pay homage to the life of yet another of our sporting sons."
"On behalf of the government of Jamaica, I wish to express my sincerest condolences to his family and friends," the Minister added.
Meanwhile as the community of Drewsland mourned their coach's death, captain of the Waterhouse football team, Desmond Breakenridge said "the team is saddened by what transpired but they have learnt a lot from him."
Clyde Jureidini, manager of Harbour, worked with Cargill at Harbour View when he left school. He said the former national player was a leader and other players gravitated towards him."
Earl Bailey, press officer of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) says Cargill's loss is a massive blow for local football.
"We extend condolences to his family and friends and to Waterhouse FC. We know they would be suffering at this time".
Donovan White, vice president of Waterhouse FC was at Cargill's bedside when he died.
"He was just trying to hang on and wanted to pull through. The doctors up to five minutes before the pronouncement said they felt that he was going to pull through, he was showing signs. They thought he was coming around. It wasn't to be".
"Having the experience of standing there and watching it unfold will rest with me for a long time," White said.
