Jamaicans footballers among US league top nominees

Livingston Scott

Former Harbour View players Brian 'Rambo' Brown and Akeil Barrett are among the 10 candidates nominated for the North American Soccer League Young Player of the Year award on Tuesday.

Brown, a 22-year-old centre-forward, won back-to-back daCosta Cups with Rusea's in 2010 & 2011 and was the 2013/2014 local Premier League top scorer, playing for Harbour View.

This season, he has three goals and two assists in 12 starts from 19 games for Indy Eleven, who are currently bottom of the 11-team league after 17 games.

Barrett, also a striker by trade, plays for Jacksonville Armada. The 23-year-old has made nine starts in 19 games and has contributed 2 goals and an assist, his team sits second-from-bottom from 16 matches.

permanent deal

Harbour View General Manager Clyde Jureidini said the youngsters have done themselves proud, even if they do not win the award.

"I am proud of both of them. They are still scoring goals, and this will assist them internationally and help them grow from strength to strength," he said.

He says this should also open new doors for Barnett and assist Brown to get a permanent deal after a year on loan.

"It's a boost for both of them. Brian is trying to establish himself, so they just have to keep scoring. There is nothing better for a striker than to get a good run of regular games and have the confidence to go with that.

"So we hope they move on (to bigger things), but it's their performance that will help them do that. So they need to keep performing, and things will improve for them," he said.

The two Jamaicans will vie with eight other players for the award, which is presented to the top player 23 years and under over the course of the spring and fall seasons.

Voting ends on Tuesday, October 27.