By GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

Andy Williams - file

Former captain Andy 'Bomber' Williams is willing to return from international football retirement if called on to help the struggling Reggae Boyz by the new national coach...and if other conditions are met.

According to the man nicknamed "Bomber" for his thunderous shots, and who last represented Jamaica in the 2005 Gold Cup in the United States, he misses international competition and continues to have a desire to play for his country, despite his frustrating departure from the game's top level and especially after viewing the recent dismal showings by the Boyz.

"I remember watching the England-Jamaica game (in June at Old Trafford)," said the 28-year-old, who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS), on Monday. "Who wouldn't want to play against England? Imagine if we had the best players for that game?"

The Boyz slumped to a 6-0 defeat to England just days after crashing to a 4-0 loss to Ghana, another World Cup-bound team. If available, Williams would certainly count among any "best" group of Jamaican players today. He again proved his quality last Saturday - underlining what Jamaica has been missing in recent games - with an outstanding performance for his club in a defeat to European powerhouse Real Madrid in a friendly pre-season game at RSL's Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Williams showed complete composure and skilful command against the Spanish club giant laden with world stars like Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Robinho, Cannavaro and Raul. In one memorable and savvy play just before halftime, he took a quick free kick from the left flank that travelled some 40 yards into the Madrid penalty area and caught the defenders totally off guard. However, the RSL forward who met the well flighted ball muffed the golden scoring opportunity. His display did not go unnoticed.

"I thought Williams had a great performance," said Fox Soccer Channel's commentator Christopher Sullivan.

FRUSTRATION

Despite his current form Williams, who quit the national team due to what he called mounting frustration with the way football is administered in Jamaica rather than on-the-field performances, said his return to the Boyz would weigh heavily on who the new coach is, and whether he would need the midfielder's services.

"(My return) will depend on who is brought in and if that coach would desire me to help the team, which I would definitely do," he explained. "If the coach came and asked for my help I definitely would come out of retirement."

However, not before Williams is convinced that the current football administration is capable of running a more efficient programme. Williams said Jamaica has a wealth of football talent. He even praised Wendell Downswell, who resigned as technical director after several recent disappointing performances by national teams.

"The whole federation, in my personal view, needs to be reworked," he said. "The way I see the federation going right now it's not going to improve. I feel sorry for the young players depending on football for a living."

Williams, who led a youthful Jamaica squad to the Digicel Caribbean Cup title last year, called Downswell a good coach who always tried to support the players. He said Downswell and his coaching staff had reasonable success despite never receiving the support the foreign coaches did.

"I didn't have a problem with the coaching staff," he said, explaining his retirement. "It's just the little stuff that happened off the field, with the administration and players.

"With Downswell we were producing, winning games people thought we shouldn't," Williams added. "I thought Downswell did a good job with the players he had.

"... (But) the players would gripe to me about this and that...Everything just lacked professionalism...disorganised. It's not great."

Williams, who has played for Jamaica at almost every age level, with more than 80 appearances and 12 goals for the senior team, said he had no real preference who should take over the national team. However, he said someone like Brazilian Rene Simoes, who led the Reggae Boyz to the 1998 World Cup finals in France, a squad which Williams was a part of, would be a good fit.

"I would have to go back to Simoes," said Williams, who explained he had not been asked by Jamaica's coaches or administrators to return from retirement.

"He knows the players, the coaches, the country."

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.