Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

National utility player, Oneil 'Bigga' Thompson, will join a host of Reggae Boyz plying their trade abroad as he has taken up a contract offer from Norwegian second-division club Notodden.

The robust midfielder, who has represented the national squad at both the central midfield and centre half positions, was reported to have been quite impressive in a two-week trial in December and has now been offered a one-year contract.

Notodden manager Jan Halvor envisions playing the 23-year-old in either a defensive or attacking midfield role. Despite the monumental loss to local Premier League outfit Boys' Town, to whom Thompson was still contracted, the club was happy that the player has been given an opportunity to exhibit his talent overseas.

"Despite the fact that he will be missed, we are elated that he will get the chance to showcase his talent abroad," said Boys' Town Technical Director, Andrew Price.

Good example

"He serves as a good example because we want these players to know that it is possible to make a living from the game with hard work," Price went on.

"Oneil is a national player and he will be sorely missed in our line-up, but we will be looking to strengthen our squad and a couple of new players could pop up in the line-up in the coming weeks as we look to close out the season," he said.

The club, which also signed Hatian national Josue Mayard, is currently undergoing preseason preparations and Thompson is expected to leave the island later this week to negotiate personal terms of the contract. The Norwegian second division will kick off in early April.

STEPHENSON DEAL

Thompson is the second Jamaican to have sealed a deal in the Scandinavian countries recently following national midfielder Khari Stephenson's Swedish transfer from Gais to AIK Stockholm on Sunday.

AIK, the premier league runners-up last year, signed Stephenson for a four-year contract valued at US$1m (approx. J$65m).