Patrick Graham in recent action for Arnett Gardens. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE NAME 'Ninja' would more than likely ring a bell for people in the entertainment fraternity, what with DJ Desmond Ballentine and Ninja Kid. In football, that moniker was adopted by the cultured player Patrick Graham. As a youngster he impressed many with his maturity in midfield and ball distribution. He drew comparisons to the then central midfield general Peter Cargill.
For a while, though, not much was heard from the player who starred for Petersfield Compre-hensive High (now Petersfield High School) from 1992-1996.
He also made his name at the national age group and national level playing for Jamaica's Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 teams where his peers included the likes of Kevin Deerr, Ricardo Fuller, Ricardo Gardner, Andy Williams, Donovan Ricketts, Damion Stewart, Winston Griffiths, Shavar Thomas, Ainsworth Kerr and Robert Scarlett.
At 26, Ninja appears to have found a new lease on life at Arnett Gardens where he is reminding many of his skills. To the surprise of few, Graham is stamping his class not only in midfield but in the sweeper's role where he is looking like a natural fit, and he piles up one accomplished performance after another.
The Gleaner caught up with him recently for a One on One.
Q: For a while it seemed as if football had taken a back seat to your studies, is that the case?
Patrick Graham: I am taking football seriously but my studies are important. As it is now I just completed my diploma course in physical education and am now completing the degree programme which is a major In physical education and a minor in science at the G.C. Foster College.
Q: Why did you decide to go to G.C. Foster at that time?
PG: G.C. Foster is really a sports college and I am interested in science as well so it was an opportunity for me to merge both interests. In addition to sports I also love the sciences. I have a number of subjects at the CXC, GCE and SSC levels so that was the next step for me.
Q: Football seems to be coming back to the fore now, is that the case?
PG: Being at Reno and playing for the national team and having put your strong foot forward you would have expected certain people to look out for you. I went into the national team as a teenager and then I was a student of G..C. Foster. In fact I was a student at G.C. Foster before I got into the Under-20 team.
At that time I asked the managers, Mr Burton and Mr McPherson, to write a letter to the college indicating that I would be on national duty whenever I had to miss school, and it was not done.
As a result of that I was asked to sit out school and after five years of devoting my time to football I was just dropped. I was last invited to a Jamaica squad in 2000 when I was 20 going on to 21. I was idle for two years and then I decided to get back in school and I did so in 2002.
Q: You were a long-time Reno player, why did you decide to switch?
PG: It was time for a change. I know that I was very important to the club and, yes, the club is very dear to me but it was time for me to move on.
Q: Are you still harbouring dreams of a national cap?
PG: If you had asked me that question six months ago I would have told you no. Now, looking at the national programme there appears to be an emphasis on young players and home-grown talent so the opportunity seems to be there for a player like me to demonstrate his abilities.
Q: After completing your studies at G.C. Foster, what are you looking at?
PG: I want to teach, hopefully. I would teach Physical Education and Science.
Q: As a student at G.C. Foster you get the opportunity to become well-rounded so one does not really need to specialise. Any chance you would look at coaching?
PG: I don't know right now. Whenever I get the opportunity I help the youth in my community.
Q: Are you still exploring the possibility of playing professionally?
PG: I still have the desire to play professionally and I think now is the time for me to get the exposure because local-based players are being used and I still believe I can get a contract.
Q: All that time that you were out there in the football wilderness, were you disappointed, especially when a number of players were called from overseas and you were never looked at?
PG: Yes, I had lost faith in the whole thing because the last time I played for my country I was 20 going on 21 and I had not even had a chance to develop to anything close to my best and I knew I had much more to offer.
Q: Arnett Gardens appear to have breathed new life into your football. Is this an accurate statement?
PG: Yes, definitely. It is a new life. Prior to joining Arnett Gardens in January of last year I was playing for Reno but I only played when they came to Kingston. At that time I was mostly playing Inter-Collegiate football and that was it. Now I am playing serious football for the first time in about three years and it really is a good feeling.
Nodley Wright
