Central F.C.’s latest signing, Jamal Jack will be a significant contributing factor in The Sharks quest for Champions League football, said Managing Director, Brent Sancho.
“Both myself and Head Coach Terry Fenwick saw Jamal as a key component as we build a squad to challenge for trophies this year” said Sancho. “Jamal has only won 1 cap, but I’m convinced if he has a successful season that he can attract the eye of national head coach, Stephen Hart”
Sancho, who represented T&T as a centre back in the 2006 world cup, should have some experience at spotting a good defender.
“This season, Jamal will be Central’s Ledley King.” King was a Tottenham and England centre back and captained his club side. “Ledley was always calm under pressure and his timing on challenges was superb. I see Jamal in the same mould.”
The 25 year old defender arrived in California after a spell with St Ann’s Rangers. “It’s great for me to come to Central” said Jack, who was born in Charlotteville, Tobago. “Both Mr Sancho and Mr Fenwick played in World Cups as defenders, so I’m certain that I can learn a few pointers from them to improve my game.”
Jack is frustrated that he hasn’t won more international appearances. “I played against Antigua & Barbuda and, as you would expect, it was my proudest moment in football. You can’t explain how it feels to listen to your national anthem wearing the red, white and black jersey. Your chest kind of expands to bursting point!”
Jack, who states his favourite club as Manchester City, feels that more success at Pro League level for him will bring more caps. ”Success breeds success” said Jack “Coach’s will always look at winning teams first when they look for players. So it’s important to me, and the other guys at the club, to make sure we win trophies.”
Jack states his favourite player as the Belgium and Man City defender Vincent Kompany.
“He’s the complete package” said Jack “For me, he’s currently the world’s best in that position”
Jack will see himself become a source of experience for many of the Sharks line up. “We have a very youthful squad, some of whom are still teenagers, so I guess I will have to set a good example. Despite the ages of some of the guys, the talent is fantastic. There’s plenty of pace in the side and I can see half a dozen potential internationals in the squad.”
Off the field, Central F.C. are working on the formation of an official supporters club. Anyone interested can contact the club through it’s facebook page, centralfctt. It’s expected that the membership package will include a season ticket for home games, exclusive supporters club T shirt and other Central F.C. branded items.
Meanwhile, Central F.C. coach Terry Fenwick is eyeing the 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League title, having guided the team to fifth place in the previous season, his first time at the helm of the year-long club.
“Recognising I’ve been in control of the team for five months, it’s not a lot of time,” he said in an end-of-season interview. “We’ll be much better next time around. And we will start giving licks to a lot of these teams.
“We’re playing better football,” added Fenwick. “We’re in control of games. We’re looking forward to next season.”
Fenwick replaced fellow Englishman Graham Rix as Central FC coach in January, and saw the team progress from seventh to fifth spot with 30 points.
“I’m pleased to be back,” he noted. “To be fair to (managing director) Brent Sancho and (operations director) Kevin Harrison, they’ve done a great job in a short space of time.
“We and they would be much better prepared next time. And I think we’ll be looking at the top spot next time around.”
Looking at his plans for the offseason, Fenwick stated, “we’re already looking at youngsters. They’ll be quite an extensive change-around in players. And we will be very good next time.”