11-y-o laces up for St Ann Major League semi-final 

THE football jury is still out on whether Kayden Foreman became Jamaica’s youngest-ever Major League parish player when he debuted for St Ann’s King Football Academy on Sunday, April 19. However, scoring twice, at 11 years old, playing against 20- and 30-odd year-old men certainly rewrote the history books.

A grade-five student at St Ann’s Bay Primary since last December, having moved from United Learning Centre, a preparatory school, to better balance football training with academics, Foreman will take his now customary place on the bench for defending champions King FA against Content Gardens in the first semi-final of the St Ann Major League, set for Drax Hall at 5 p.m. today.

Foreman netted twice from off the bench on debut in King FA’s 8-1 drubbing of Mount Edgecombe, scoring in the 69th and 85th minutes, handed the last 25 minutes of playing time by coach Vernon Peterkin, who has not left him off a team list since.

“I have played in three of four games so far. Yes, I scored two goals in my first game. It felt like an accomplishment but I didn’t want to hype myself up. I can’t focus on that every day. It did feel good though,” Kayden said, almost nonchalantly, as though playing against grown men was a FIFA video game.

Modest with his football accomplishment, Kayden admitted his new schoolmates have no clue that he spends his evenings training at Drax Hall among men, alongside his twin brother, Adam, both fluent in Spanish and preparing for PEP exams.

Peterkin describes King FA as “a small club of eight years, focussing on development of talent in the parishes of St Ann, Trelawny and St Mary”, competing against Black Stars, Phoenix Academy, Madras FA, Lewis Football Club, Exchange United, Mount Edgecombe, Richmond, Content United, Moneague FC, Steer Town and Dry Harbour FC in the St Ann Major League.

Kayden, Peterkin confirmed, will certainly be on the bench this evening, not a novelty act but having earned his place, showing exceptional skills as a preparatory-school player, netting 11 goals in his first three games as an under-nine player.

“He is on the match card for every game. He worked for it so we have to give him the opportunity. He doesn't start but comes on most games.

“We have been coaching him from age six. He has shown significant interest and growth, getting his technical ability and tactical speed at a level to play with the bigger boys, hence getting a jersey to play the Major League,” Peterkin pointed out, adding that he was not surprised when Kayden scored in his first match.

“He started the movements and knew where the ball would end up. We were surprised that he scored twice but knew he would have scored at least one if he got the chance,” he said.

Naming Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as his favourite player, Jayden admires the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for being “very disciplined and a phenomenal player”.

Kayden’s banker father, Kevin Foreman, and mother, Dr Micas Campbell–Foreman, are keen on their sons remaining level-headed and healthy.

“My wife is big on nutrition. We try not to expose them to unhealthy food. We don’t indulge in sweet drinks or fast food. Kayden is very slender, all muscle and bones, very lean, not a very big kid but quick and agile,” said Kevin.

Richmond plays Madras in the second semi-final tomorrow, either of which Kayden hopes he will face in next Saturday’s final should King FA get past Content Gardens.