The Daily News is reporting that both Andy Williams and Craig Ziadie were called up to the Jamacian National team for a friendly against Jamacia this month. So now does Ziadie count as an international player? hope not.
No. Ziadie has American Citizenship as well as Jamaican citizenship. He'll always count as an American for MLS purposes. Similar situation as Ezra Hendrickson.
The Jamaicans want Ziadie locked up. Last year (as a rookie) he started very well for DCU and there was speculation (b/c at the time, the USMNT right back spot was still very unsettled) that Ziadie might be the long-term answer there. I think he might (not positive) have even gotten some encouragement from Arena. Anyway, Jamaica tried to call him up for a friendly and he declined (muttered some diplomatic things about 'needing to concentrate on my club career now, fighting for a starting spot') but it was widely interpreted as: if you could choose between being a Jamaican international or a USA international (and had a very good shot at being the USA international), would you commit to Jamaica? However, the talk of him being part of the USA team even in the next couple of years has cooled off. If he reports to camp and plays for Jamaica, then he can't play for the USA in the future. I'd guess that Jamaica figured this would be a great time to call him up and get him locked in. Then, if he develops as a player, they've got him and the USA doesn't.
Agree with JoeW. It's smart to call him up if he has any chance of earning a spot in the future. If they play him at all, he can't play for the US or anywhere else. MartyF: How is Jamaica playing Jamaica?
If Ziadie is ever any country's National Team member they are in trouble. He is not even above average as an MLS back. Williams is the best mid we've had since Donadoni but Ziadie as a Jamaican N T player is a push to say the least.
zadie First of all, I don't think Friendlies count. I know Jeff Cunningham has played in friendlies for both the U.S. and Jamacia, but he's now cap-tied to the U.S. because he played for us in the Gold Cup. Second, now way is Zadie better than that Scarlett guy they had playing right back in the qualifier where we clinched a world cup birth, but I guess they're looking for depth.
Re: zadie It is my understanding that once you suit up and play for a senior national team, then you're committed. While Cunningham was born in Jamaica and might have played for junior national sides, I don't believe he was ever in camp, let alone played for the Reggae Boyz. In the past, USSF has been lenient about defectors (Julie Vee and Hungary, Jurgen Pahl and Norbert Nachtfeih with East Germany) with the Iron Curtain and also players who received invites but did not play (Thomas Dooley and Germany) or were only in junior camps (Martin Vasquez and Mexico) or played in pan-american events (Chris Armas and Puerto Rico). It also doesn't matter if Ziadie is better than Scarlett. Many of Jamaica's best players are overseas and won't get releases (especially if they're not in the Premiership but 1st or 2nd division) for a friendly. We won't start our 11 best players against El Salvador in November. Jamaica and Japan won't either.
Re: zadie If it's a FIFA-sanctioned international, it counts. How do you think that Cobi got to 100+ caps?
Reminds me of Venezuela cap tieing Gio Savarese, who by the way was also eligible for the US and Italy. It may have been before MLS.
Exactly! Ziadie is a great candidate for the JFF to pull in. It's less expensive to get him to Jamaica or Concacaf matches, it isn't a problem getting him away from his club (b/c 1st and 2nd division clubs in the UK that many Jamaicans play on don't have to release 5 days before--we ran into that issue with Kirovski at one point with Crystal Palace), he's at a league with a higher level of play than the Jamaican domestic league. The question is--will he go? At this point, I'd think so.
Re: Re: zadie Well not exactly. Obie is correct that it's FIFA sanctioned events. Certain friendlies may qualify, but usually they do not. At the youth level only the big tournaments (i.e. the Youth World Cup) count, and no friendlies count whatsoever. Becoming cap tied is a big deal, but FIFA has built in some flexibility for people just like Zadie. Would this be a FIFA sanctioned event? I dunno. But that is correct that Jamaica wants to cap tie him as he's playing in a strong league, is young, athletic and shows promise. Jamaica wasn't interested until the Arena rumors surfaced so I'm not too sure that he'd see any real playing time for them yet. Guys like Scarlett are light years better than Perch is IMHO. -Tron
I'm glad. He (Zaidie) has potential, but is rough around the edges. This could help him develop into a much better player.
Re: Re: Re: zadie Maybe you missed the part about a FIFA Sanctioned international. And Armas played for Puerto Rico, but both of those were not FIFA Sanctioned internationals.
Re: Re: Re: Re: zadie Nope, I didn't miss that part at all. I was pointing out that some friendlies are not FIFA sanctioned internationals. Jeff apparently played in one that was NOT, hence it didn't count.