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Stabroek News

Portmore's Barrett making the right moves
published: Sunday | April 9, 2006

Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer

WHEN HIS coach pulled him from a defensive position back in 2000 and tried to plant him between Waterworks FC's goalposts during the Hanover Division One football competition, Jacomena Barrett protested profusely.

Little did he know that he would today hold the distinction of being the most successful goalkeeper produced by Hanover.

At 18 years of age, Barrett secured an important contract with National Premier League Champions Portmore United immediately following graduation from Rusea's High School in 2003.

Now 21, Barrett stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 210 pounds. He was signed to Trinidad and Tobago champion club Joe Public last year after the club's management saw videotapes of him in action and were impressed. Barrett was also a national Under-23 invitee last year.

Like the majority of boys from the Prosper community in Lucea, where he grew up, Barrett started playing football at a very early age.

"I started playing football as soon as I was able to walk," Barrett told The Gleaner. "My brothers used to put me in the goal and kick balls at me. I attended Lucea Primary and later Esher Primary and that is where I first competed officially," he added.

Barrett later represented the Jericho All-Age School and then Rusea's High School for two years in the Under-17 football competition, where Rusea's won the Western Championship title. The school was, however, beaten by Charlie Smith High in the national championship in Kingston. Barrett kept goal for Rusea's 2002 daCosta Cup champion team which also went on to win the Olivier Shield that year. He also represented Rusea's in cricket as a pace bowler in the Headley Cup during his senior years at the school.

NUMBER ONE GOALKEEPER

But Barrett's career as a goalkeeper was thrust upon him at age 15 by chance. After the Waterworks team's number one goalkeeper deserted the team, during the Division One competition, he was called upon by the coach to keep. Barrett refused, declaring he was a defender and had no desire to be a goalkeeper. He was then barred from playing in subsequent games and as a result, sat on the Waterworks' bench for weeks.

DEFINING MOMENT

Barrett's defining moment came during the semi-finals of the competition when the substitute goalkeeper was injured and had to be pulled from the game. In a bid to secure his team's chances, he hastily grabbed his gloves and without even giving it a second thought, ran onto the field, dragging on his goalkeeper's shirt before even being acknowledged by the referee. He was promptly yellow-carded. Nevertheless, Waterworks won the championship that year.

Barrett said his most memorable moment in football was beating William Knibb in the final of the DaCosta Cup competition in 2002. However, his worst moment he said, came when Portmore went down 2-1 to Boys' Town after two goals slipped by him earlier this year.

"That was the worst feeling I ever had, because the first goal was my fault. When I saw the replay on TV, I couldn't believe it was me between the goal posts. As a goalkeeper, I am captain of the ship. I have to get the ship going; make sure everybody is on their feet playing," he said.

Barrett's favourite local footballer is Kevin Lamey, while his favourite international footballer is Brazil's Ronaldinho. He also admires Real Madrid's goalkeeper Iker Casillas Fernandez and, Portmore's senior goalkeeper, Sean Sawyers. His favourite meal is steamed fish, while his hobbies include reading and listening to music. His advice to young players: "Never quit.

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