Seaforth's, Michaul Annan, challenges Vauxhall's, Franklin Ferron, for a ball during their ISSA/KFC schoolboys basketball competition at the Stadium Courts yesterday. Annan scored 30 points while Ferron had a game high of 34 points. Seaforth came away 60-58 winners.
-Ricardo Makyn photoNodley Wright
, Freelance Writer
WEEKS OF trials for Jamaica's goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts will come to an end when the international transfer window re-opens on January 1.
Then he will sign a six-month loan deal with English Premier League team Bolton Wanderers, where he has been on trial for weeks.
According to a source close to Village United, an agreement has been reached for the towering goalkeeper to join Bolton in January on loan for a fee under 30,000 pounds.
When that contract expires in June, he will join the club on a permanent basis for a fee of close to 300,000 pounds.
FIRST GOALKEEPER
With the completion of the deal, Ricketts will become the first local goalkeeper to be signed from Jamaica to play in England.
Ricketts made a name for himself in England with an outstanding performance against the world's top-ranked team Brazil, when the Reggae Boyz took them on in a friendly international recently.
The towering goalie made a number of outstanding saves to limit the five-time world champions and current World Cup holders who had fielded a powerful line-up with two-time FIFA Footballer of the Year, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo.
It was Roberto Carlos, the Real Madrid star left-back who scored the game-winning goal off an unstoppable shot that swerved wickedly inside the far post.
Prior to that match against Brazil, Ricketts also stood out in another friendly against Australia in that country when the Reggae Boyz were beaten 2-1, with Liverpool's Harry Kewell netting the winner for the Oceania team from close range.
Before trying out at Bolton, Ricketts had a trial stint at Second Division club Rushden and Diamonds, home of two other Jamaica internationals, Onandi Lowe and Paul Hall.
At Bolton Wanderers Ricketts will join another Jamaican, Ricardo Gardner. Jermaine Johnson a second Reggae Boy associated with Bolton, is currently on loan with Second Division club Oldham Athletic.
