3 weeks ago
7
KIMANI ARBOUINE has goals to achieve.
Already adorned with multiple titles, the talismanic Arnett Gardens Football Club winger is, akin to his pet name ‘Bye Bye’, yearning for an overseas contractual parting from his cradling environment.
Arbouine’s ambition is, in all respects, a reflection of the nature of the business of football, with players the game’s assets for buy and sell with benefits for club and player, especially transfers of international bearing, because there is much more to gain financially.
Age, along with talent, performance, and attitude, front the attraction and, at 27 years, the Arnett frontman with blinding pace has great clarity about what his career needs.
“I need to get a contract overseas, hopefully in Europe, somewhere like Belgium,” he said, fully engaged with head up, wide-eyed. “I have family, children. I want better.”
In his desperation for better, Arbouine left Jamaica in January of 2024 and went to Tanzania where his agent was trying to secure him a contract. At the time, his contract had expired at Arnett Gardens FC.
“It never really worked out,” the player shared of the attempt that never materialised into anything, neither trial nor contract.
Experienced coach Xavier Gilbert, who was fairly new in his role as head coach of Arnett Gardens FC, noted missing the quality of the wide-attacking player, who had been the club’s leading goalscorer at the time.
After Arbouine had scored again in the team’s recent 1-0 victory over Dunbeholden FC in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), Gilbert said the circumstances surrounding that sojourn to Africa weren’t perfect.
“Conditions weren’t ideal for him and he had to come back home. He was in good form before he left,” the coach said. “But that’s how it is. We want to wish him all the best, keep him healthy as best as possible, and see where it takes us.”
Highlighting his desire for improvements, the player also had a couple transfer stints with Cavalier Soccer Club, another leading Jamaica football club, which won the Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship in December 2024.
Arbouine has been an impact player for Arnett Gardens throughout his career and has netted seven goals in the current JPL campaign, helping his team to third position on 34 points, the same as Montego Bay United, with the latter having a better goal difference. Mount Pleasant Football Academy lead the 14-team standings on 37 after 16 games.
“He’s a fantastic player, good individual,” Gilbert said of his key playmaker. “He has grown, he’s more mature now and he knows what he wants and he’s working to achieve his goals and objectives.”
Among Arbouine’s major achievements number the Caribbean Football Union Club Shield, which Arnett Gardens FC won at the top of this current campaign in August 2024; the Premier League, and national Under-20 Championship.
Practically everything he’s done football-wise germinated and developed in his tough, Arnett Gardens inner-city community, from honing his skills in scrimmage on the dirt playing field along Collie Smith Drive in his area known as ‘Mexico’ to representing Charlie Smith High School that is about 400 metres from his home, and playing in the Manning Cup final before assimilating into the club set-up.
The attachments have glued his sense of responsibility to club, community and on a personal level.
“I live in the community ‘enuh’. I see the people every day. I have to walk pass them when I’m going to training and when I am coming back home. So I always want to deliver, it’s like I put myself under pressure to deliver because I’m not only representing myself, I’m playing for my family, my club, my community,” he stated, full of passion.
Whenever the team is playing, one can almost feel the weight of expectation when Arbouine gets possession. Boldly and frequently, he has a go at defenders, turning on the turbo and skills to create a path towards goal.
“We’re not easy to please, but is so we stay as Arnett spectators and we love Bye Bye because him always a try things. So, even if him try something and it nuh work, we know him have the ability,” a fan remarked.
Gilbert, too, appears to allow the player freedom to execute his potential.
“Kimani Arbouine has been massive for us,” he said. “Both he and Warner Brown up front have been tremendous for us, and we hope that we can keep them healthy to continue their goalscoring form. They’re in good nick and they can be a threat to any back line, and we want to keep them healthy.
“Hopefully they’ll continue to perform and move on from here. As much as we’d love to have them here, it’s important that they make the transition and hopefully they can pick up something outside Jamaica,” noted Gilbert.
Arbouine’s desire is no different and, as he pushes for more success at Arnett Gardens FC, there is hope that both will land their goal.
English (US) ·