‘IT’S IN MY DNA’ – Jamaica Observer

Regardless of being arguably Jamaica’s most profitable girls’s coach, Charles “Charlie” Edwards has been with out an official teaching job in nearly a decade. Nonetheless, the previous Reggae Girlz head coach says he’s not retired and is planning to make a comeback within the close to future.

Edwards, as head coach, led Barbican FC to a report 12 titles within the Jamaica Girls’s Premier League (JWPL), successful 9 straight from 2008 to 2016. He additionally served as head coach of the nationwide senior girls’s crew from 2007 to 2008 earlier than they have been disbanded by the Jamaica Soccer Federation.

Nonetheless, Edwards’ final official recreation of soccer was on November 19, 2016 when Barbican beat Los Perfectos 4-2 to carry one other JWPL title. Since then, Barbican haven’t entered the competitors and have been utterly inactive as a result of monetary struggles.

Edwards has since acted as a marketing consultant for a number of golf equipment and gamers whereas additionally serving to to conduct soccer camps abroad throughout the summer time months.

Nonetheless, Edwards says his sturdy ardour for the game is fuelling his want to return to teaching.

“I believe that I nonetheless have so much to contribute to soccer,” he stated. “I’ve been bouncing round, serving to coaches right here and there. Even at Fixed Spring, I’ve been supporting, serving to them to restructure and do a session right here and there. So I’m not completely out of soccer and I hold myself very present, so I’ll be again in it.

“I find it irresistible, it’s part of my life, it’s in my DNA so I’ll be again in it. I don’t suppose I can keep out of it too lengthy. I believe after I retire from teaching soccer is after I can’t transfer any extra. So long as God provides me power and breath, I’ll be teaching.”

Edwards, although, has no intentions of accepting any place that doesn’t meet his monetary necessities.

“In case you take a look at lots of coaches on this nation, after they retire, lots of them are in a foul monetary state of affairs the place they’re in want of assist and assist and I don’t need to fall into that entice,” he stated. “I’m attempting to ensure it doesn’t occur so I’ve to be very cautious of these items.

“My future going ahead needs to be deliberate correctly financially for after I get again into soccer. I really like teaching, I take pleasure in teaching, I really like the getting the kids in the proper house, which I’ve executed with tons of of gamers and lots of these gamers are doing effectively, so I’d like to get again into it however financially, I’ve to be smarter than I used to be earlier than.”

The rebranded JWPL, now operated by the Skilled Girls’s Soccer Jamaica Restricted, kicked off on Saturday with 10 groups.

Edwards says he’s not against teaching a membership exterior of Barbican however says sure buildings must be in place.

“We’ve got this tendency on this nation that we must always depend upon the [JFF] to assist you and enable you to alongside and I don’t suppose that’s proper,” he stated. “I believe, similar to the remainder of the world, golf equipment want to have a look at themselves, exit and discover their very own sponsorship and assist.

“If I’m coming again into the league, that’s how I’d like to come back again, with out the dependency of the JFF throwing cash at us to assist us. Even so, when the JFF is late with it, you must go in your individual pocket and fill the gaps. It’s not factor, it doesn’t look good, your pocket will get burnt and stuff like that.”

Whereas admitting he hasn’t been contacted by the JFF, Edwards says he would haven’t any points in serving to the ladies’s programme.

“If I see the place I can assist them or give a bit of recommendation right here or there, I’ll,” he stated. “I’m not in any malicious state or upset with the JFF, I’m simply cruising alongside, holding my two fingers collectively in a prayerful method that they may get it proper and the ladies’s league will take off and go to a stage the place it was earlier than, and even higher.”