In the second of an occasional
series on CONCACAF players to watch for in the 2011 Gold Cup, Michael Lewis
interviews one of the keys to Grenada’s chances this Summer – New England
Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph.
By Michael Lewis – NEW
YORK, NY (Feb 11, 2011) US Soccer Players --Coming off his most frustrating and
disappointing season of his nine-year pro soccer career, New England Revolution
midfielder Shalrie Joseph realizes his biological soccer clock is ticking,
especially at the international level.
The perennial MLS Best XI
selection and All-Star is 32-years-old, an age where many international
players, particularly midfielders and forwards, see their careers winding down,
if they haven't hung up their boots already.
Joseph, however, figures he has
a few miles left in those lanky legs to help bring Grenada some CONCACAF glory.
Conditioning was a reason why Joseph decided to not play for Grenada in the
Digicel Caribbean Cup, where his team successfully qualified for the
CONCACAF Gold Cup.
"I plan to represent my
country," Joseph said earlier this week. "I didn't play in the
off-season. I was just resting up my body. I feel I'm in great shape even
though it's two weeks into the pre-season. I've been working pretty hard in the
off-season and getting my body right because I know it's going to be a long
year. I look forward to it. I will be ready for the Gold Cup."
A decent showing in the
continental tournament is "very important," for so many reasons,
Joseph said. "We need to put my country on the map," he added.
"If we can win it, if we have a good showing, it definitely would be huge
for our country because our country definitely loves soccer. We've got kids who
are looking forward to us playing. Representing my country is a dream of mine.
Being out there, trying to win the Gold Cup is something that is something I
would love to do."
Joseph said the team works
hard, but that is not enough.
"Technically, we still
lack a bit in what we need to do, get the ball on passes and move the ball
well," he said. "Offensively, we're still struggling in that
department. Hopefully, with my addition and a couple of guys from overseas who
weren't there. We definitely can make a good show if we can get good players on
the team."
Such as striker Jason Roberts,
who plies his trade with Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League, where
he has scored three times in 12 appearances this season. Roberts has struck for
12 goals in 22 international matches. When the U.S. played Grenada during 2006
World Cup qualifying, Roberts was a handful and a half to handle. He is now 33,
quite possibly a bit slower, but much more wiser and experienced.
"We need that big target
fellow because he's such a workhorse," Joseph said. "He's been doing
great. I've been following him and his team over there. If we can get him for a
couple of games I think we can do something decent."
Anything would be an
improvement over the Spice Boys' 2009 Gold Cup performance when they went three
and out in the opening round, losing to the United States, Haiti, and Honduras.
Joseph and Roberts did not play.
With the World Cup preliminary
draw set for July 31st, CONCACAF qualifying for Brazil 2014 is a lot closer
than you would think.
"This will be my last
go-around qualifying for the World Cup," Joseph said. "We've been
getting some tough draws like the US in the first round."
He was referring to the 2006
qualifying tournament. The United States overcame Grenada, but the Caribbean
side certainly made the Americans sweat. The US won the first game of the
total-goals series at home, 3-0, on two stoppage-time goals. The Americans
managed to beat Grenada, 3-2, in a wild encounter in the Caribbean.
"Hopefully, we will get a
lesser opponent so we can make a better showing," Joseph said.
Joseph made headlines he would
like to forget last season when he was forced to take a leave of absence for
almost a month due to MLS’ substance abuse and behavioral health program after
he had a positive test for marijuana.
"Definitely I would like
to keep it in my past," he said. "It was a frustrating period in my
life where I made bad decisions. I didn't lean on my friends and family when I
was down. I was going through a lot…. It was a weakness that I don't want to go
through again."
For the first time in his Revs'
career, New England did not make the playoffs. It’s a situation
unfamiliar to Joseph, who helped the team reach three consecutive MLS Cup
finals and normally finished the season in contention for MLS Cup.
Joseph said it was "very
difficult. I was frustrated to the point that it lent to some of my negativity.
After being at the top for so many years…. We're struggling to get back there
[it had to be] one of the most frustrating periods of my life."
With many of the old gang
either traded, retired or gone overseas, Joseph finds himself as one of the old
pros on the Revs. So, he will have to take on a greater leadership role.
"I welcome it as a great
challenge for me to show what I am capable to bring to the team this
year," he said. "When we're losing so many key guys every year, my
best friends, my role as a leader has become more and more vocal. It comes with
having the young kids listen to you, trying to get them in the right spot. Just
being next to them when they need someone to talk to, having that voice. Since
I've been in the league so long, I've been part of this organization so long,
knowing the experience that I carry with me. I try to lend them a little bit of
my knowledge."
Who knows? This could be
Joseph's last year in MLS as his contract ends after this season. He said he
still would like to play in Europe. MLS twice stopped him from joining Celtic,
despite lucrative offers from the Scottish Premier League power.
"As long as I am playing
soccer, it definitely will be on my radar," Joseph said. "It's a
different time. It's a huge challenge for me. I still want to take it on. When
my contract ends at the end of this year, you never know what's going to
happen. But I definitely still have dreams of playing overseas. I'm not going
to [give up] until I retire."
If Joseph has his way, it won't
be for a while. He would like to play another five or six years at the club
level. Joseph has seen the likes of AC Milan defenders Paolo Maldini (he
retired at 40 in 2009) and Alessandro Nesta (he's still playing and turns 35 in
March) remain quite effective late in their careers.
"It's all about taking
care of their bodies at AC Milan," he said. "They've excellent
facilities over there. For me, it's how I treat my body the last couple of
years. Lucky for me it has been holding up pretty good. I've been fortunate not
to have long-term injuries. I've been in great shape and I keep my body right,
I think I'm ready to play another five or six years, as long as my body can
hold out."
Michael Lewis, the editor of BigAppleSoccer.com,
can be reached atSoccerWriter516@aol.com.
SOURCE: US SOCCER PLAYERS
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