Flemmings calls for Boyz return

After three years in the international wilderness, out-of-favour Reggae Boyz forward Junior Flemmings believes his impressive back-to-back seasons warrant a recall to the Jamaica set-up.

Flemmings, who plays for Ajman Club in the United Arab Emirates Pro League, has not played for the Reggae Boyz since June 2022, in the Concacaf Nations League group stage, where he was among a group of players that led the infamous call for the resignation of then General Secretary Dalton Wint.

Fingers were pointed at Wint for a number of administrative foul-ups, including a cancelled return flight and poor hotel accommodations for the opening Nations League group game in Suriname.

Flemmings, who scored 12 goals and had two assists in the Serbian Super League in the 2023-24 season and 11 goals and two assists for Ajman last term, believes he is the best-performing Jamaican winger across all leagues and that his performances deserve a look-in.

“For the past two seasons I have put up double digits as a winger, scoring goals when I was in Serbia last year and in the UAE Pro League. I have not felt like this in a long time, since I was in Phoenix in 2021 and in peak of form and was topscorer.

“There is currently no Jamaican winger with back-to-back double-digit goals, no matter which league they are playing in. So if people are saying it is the league (level why he is not being recalled), there are players who are playing in lower leagues that still cannot do it.

“So there is no Jamaican winger, left or right, who has scored double-digit goals in back-to-back seasons.”

Even though some have argued that it is the level of the UAE Pro League why he is not being considered, Flemmings believes otherwise, as the events of 2022 still linger, and he thinks that has played a part in him being left out of the squad.

“I don’t think it has to do anything to do with the league. This league is higher than the USL and it is higher than the third-tier league in England, and we have players from the third division playing for the national team.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to the hierarchy of the JFF and the coach’s decision and what they choose.

“There have been some things from the past that happened a few years ago, and I am assuming that it has got to do with the incident that happened, that they might still be mad about. But we are big people. If you have a situation with me, come to me and let us have a talk and see what it is.”

Flemmings wants the opportunity to play for his nation in the World Cup, and he said he will continue to perform at a high level and with the hope of eventually catching the attention of the coach.

“I have played multiple positions in the national team. I have played as a striker, a left winger, right winger, in number 10 and right back . So when it comes to getting the job done, I put all that aside and know that I’m here to score goals and do whatever is needed to be done for the team.

“So whoever is responsible for scouting and selecting the players, if they do not see me as that type of player then it’s fine.

“I am not going to say this should happen or that should not happen. My numbers are there and they speak for themselves. So if they are not impressed by what I am doing, that is fine by me.”

JFF technical committee chairman Rudolph Speid said the door is not closed on any player.

“Every player is up for selection as we push towards (World Cup) qualification. We are looking at every single player and their performances, to be able to pick the right team for the final round.

“This is no time for petty differences. It is time for everybody to work together. So every player will be looked on as we try to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

He noted that they have had two coaches since Paul Hall, and the leadership never indicated that any specific player should not be invited.

“After the (Suriname) incident, there was no word from the hierarchy not to pick any player. The coaches that came after that have picked players solely on what they think is the best team possible.

“So there is no word from the president or anyone that prohibits him from playing for the team. He has to just continue putting in good performances, and who can tell,” Speid commented.