Family, MBU express disappointment after Morris’ U-17 World Cup omission

The exclusion of Cornwall College star Carlondo Morris from Jamaica’s 21-player roster for the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar has dealt a heavy blow to the 16-year-old and his relatives.

Morris was a member of the national training camp ahead of the tournament and has also been an integral part of his school’s run to the ISSA daCosta Cup quarterfinals.

He was among those who attended Tuesday evening’s send-off dinner hosted by MBU for the national squad at Coral Cliff in Montego Bay but was omitted when the final roster was announced.

The player’s father, Carlton Morris, said the decision had a particularly emotional impact on the youngster.

“Oh my God! When him tell me the list come out and he wasn’t on it yesterday he said, ‘Daddy, you know how me feel.’ It broke my heart. He is not a person who breaks so easily,” his father said.

Carlton said there had been the possibility of his son travelling to Qatar as a non-playing member, but the family saw little value in that arrangement, particularly after he had already sacrificed valuable school time while preparing for the tournament.

“I don’t see no sense (in that arrangement) because he is a baller, not a spectator. If he is going to watch the World Cup, he can do it from home. I would rather him be in school and catch up now,” he said.

He added that returning to Cornwall would allow his son to continue developing as a player while helping the school in its daCosta Cup quarterfinal campaign.

Montego Bay United (MBU) president Dr Germaine Spencer also expressed strong dissatisfaction with Morris’ omission. As a member of the club’s youth academy, Morris is part of MBU’s player-development programme, making his exclusion particularly disappointing for the club.

Morris has scored 16 goals in the daCosta Cup this season and has also been Cornwall’s leading scorer for the past few years. Spencer described him as a dominant attacking player in western Jamaica and said he has the potential to progress to senior football.

“This is a youngster who is dominant in the daCosta Cup and will run rings around defenders in any league, including the senior league.

“We are greatly disappointed, and I would ask for a review of the selection process to include this youngster. I think he is definitely one for the senior team in the near future,” he added.

Meanwhile, national Under-17 head coach Wendell Downswell said Morris’ omission was a difficult but marginal decision, influenced by the numbers in the squad and the assessment of two players brought in as potential replacements.

Downswell explained that the players were assessed on their physical condition and commitment levels before a final decision was made.

“Morris is one of the younger ones. He will be an integral part of the next campaign, the Under-17 campaign, along with Kelvin Brown, and they will form that unit,” Downswell said. “It was marginal. It wasn’t an easy decision.”

Continuing, he added, ”He would be the first player considered if a change became necessary before the team departs for Qatar.”

The FIFA Under-17 World Cup runs from November 19 to December 13, with Jamaica drawn in Group E alongside Italy, Cote d’Ivoire and Uzbekistan.

Jamaica will begin their campaign against Italy on Friday, November 20, at 10 a.m. Jamaica time.

Morris will now turn his attention back to Cornwall’s daCosta Cup campaign. He will rejoin his teammates as the 12-time champions prepare for their quarterfinal assignment.