Vassell Makes Stateside Shift In Bid To Be Back With The Boyz
Peter-Lee Vassell, an out-of-favour former Jamaican international, has joined Indianapolis-based USL Championship side Indy Eleven in time to tackle the new season that kicks off on Saturday (1 May).
The 23-year-old, who has notched half-a-dozen goals in 17 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, joined from MLS club Los Angeles FC (LAFC) this week.
Although the attacking midfielder has not been in the plans of Jamaica’s head coach Theodore Whitmore, being overlooked for last year’s friendlies in Saudi Arabia and the recent exhibition match against the United States, it is the middle of the pitch that the Boyz have been sadly lacking.
Their makeshift side that lost 4-1 to the US in March comprised of just island-based midfielders, namely Kevaughn Isaacs (Mount Pleasant), John Luca Levee (Harbour View FC) and Ricardo Morris (Portmore United, on loan at Finnish side VPS). However, whizzy winger and arguably the nation’s star player Leon Bailey is expected to be back for July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Vassell revealed to the website USLChampionship.com: “I used to play with [former Indy Eleven and Jamaican striker] Dane Kelly, so we used to talk a lot and he was telling me Indy Eleven is a great club.
“I’m ready for this season, and we are prepared to go to the play-offs as we have great players and coaching staff heading into the new season.”
St. James-born Vassell, who competed in the 2019 Gold Cup, spent that season with LAFC and on loan from USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC.
He kicked off his professional career with Kingston hot-shots Harbour View FC, bagging two goals in 38 appearances during the 2017-18 Jamaican Red Stripe Premier League campaign.
Vassell, snapped up by Harbour View FC after his impressive youth team career with Montego Bay United (2016-2017), is aiming to impress Whitmore ahead of this year’s all-important FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie enthused to USLChampionship.com: “He’s a highly talented player who has already played a lot of games, and scored a lot of goals, for his national team at a relatively young age.
”Peter-Lee has a ton of potential. We feel he can develop a lot with us and become a force in our midfield.”
If he can be a midfield maestro in the US, then surely another shot with the Boyz beckons.
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