GORDON WILLIAMS, Star Writer

John Barnes (left) and Alanzo Adlam participate in a Digicel Football Clinic, earlier this year. - Ian Allen

John Barnes is refusing to shut the door on any player - local or overseas - good enough to wear Jamaica's colours.

But the national senior football team's coach-in-waiting insists his sole intent is winning and all must abide by his rules demanding commitment, discipline and team spirit before they will be allowed into the programme.

Less than 24 hours after watching portions of two Digicel Premier League (DPL) games, and a couple days following Jamaica's stunning 1-0 victory over Mexico during his recent visit to Jamaica, Barnes praised the ability of several players on show and enquired about some whose whereabouts are unknown.

Character of players

However, he said talent alone will not be enough to keep players in the national squad once he takes over from interim coach Theodore Whitmore, after the Reggae Boyz's CONCACAF semi-final World Cup qualifier on November 19 against Canada.

"There were a lot of players who impressed me," said Barnes, "but more importantly the character of the players is what's important because I know Jamaican players have talent ... But you need more than that. You need the spirit that was displayed against Mexico and I don't know if the (local DPL) players have that kind of character and spirit."

He aims to find out soon after his scheduled return to Jamaica at the end of this month.

"I'm gonna ask them what sacrifices they are willing to make to be footballers, to play for their clubs wherever, and the sacrifice that they have to make to stay with us," Barnes explained.

"There's one ego in the (national) team and that's the team. Just one ego. And that will be made plain ... There's going to be nobody above anybody else ... The respect that we have to have for each other is the only way anyone wins anything as a team. Humility is gonna be a big part of my philosophy when it comes to the group."

Effective defender

Barnes said he is always willing to give a chance to players who show the required qualities, regardless of their past. One name he referred to was former national player Onandi Lowe, who was seen celebrating in Jamaica's locker room with the Boyz after the Mexico game. The 33-year-old utility player is a powerful striker and effective defender. He has 64 national caps, scoring 27 goals. However, in 2005 he was freed from drug charges in England, where he played professionally with several clubs. He was recently cleared of drug charges in Jamaica. Lowe has not represented the country since 2004, but Barnes said he has long admired his talents.

"A player who, in my opinion, would have had an opportunity to really put Jamaican football on the map up in England who, from a personality point of view could have competed with anybody at the highest level in the (English) Premier League, was Onandi Lowe," said Barnes, who claimed he will have final word on team selection.

Barnes said he knows little about Lowe's recent activities and has not contacted the player. But according to the coach, if Lowe proved his commitment to the game and the team, he would not rule out inviting him into the national fold. Yet no one, Barnes added, would be allowed to disrupt team chemistry.

"You have to have that hunger in playing," he said "Any player would have had to have shown the desire and the dedication when I'm not here ... If that group is going to be destabilised by anyone, that's not gonna happen."

Young players

Barnes will be in charge of the team after the Canada game, whether or not Jamaica advance to the final round of qualifiers. His first real test will be the Digicel Caribbean Cup in mid-December. Most of the European-based players will be unavailable for that tournament, but Barnes said he wants to win now. That approach could stall the immediate development of the nation's young players. Yet, since his contract expires June 2009, it's a chance Barnes believes he must take to secure a longer-term deal.

"Go back to how long I've got. I've got 'til June," Barnes said. "And if I don't win now, I have not got (until June). So, therefore, what I'm saying is that once you win then you have the confidence and the contract to say it's going to have a long-term thing, because you've been successful, that's when I can take a decision to bring some youngsters in then. But from my point of view, I can't bring youngsters in now, untried players, who possible won't win me matches because I won't be around to bear the fruits of that in a year, two years."

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.