FORMER Jamaica youth captain Alex Thomas has been appointed assistant coach of his former club Arnett Gardens, for the upcoming season.

Thomas, 30, who captained Jamaica’s Under-17 team to the 1999 World Cup in New Zealand, said he is delighted with his appointment.

“This is my fourth year as a coach and so far so good. This will be a good experience coaching at the highest level in Jamaica… as a young coach everybody is showing me love, the community welcomes me on board and we looking forward for a good season,” Thomas told the Sunday Observer.

Thomas, who has the distinction of also playing in the Argentina Under-20 World Cup where his brother Shavar Thomas captained that team, is said to be one of the brightest young coaches around.

“I bring to the table fresh ideas, knowledge, energy, and experience from playing,” noted Thomas, who was a respected defender in his playing days.

“As a former player, the players react to me and are willing to work. I haven’t seen any indiscipline or bad vibes in the camp. Whenever I talk, everyone are enthused and upbeat and ready to work,” he added.

Thomas, who has a Level II Coaching Certificate from the Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB)/UTech Jamaica Football Federation Coaching School, said he has learnt a lot from his mentor Ludlow Bernard during his time as assistant coach at Wolmer’s Boys School.

“I learned a lot from Ludlow Bernard, he is my mentor. In 2010 while still playing for Rivoli, he asked me to be his assistant at Wolmer’s and I jumped at it,” he noted.

Although Thomas didn’t earn a senior cap, he was invited to a few Reggae Boyz camps and was apart of a squad to China for the Lunar Cup under Wendell Downswell.

He retired from football in 2010 at age 27 and has no regrets jumping into coaching.

“I had set myself a target, that if I didn’t get a contract by time I reached age 25, I would have to try plan B which is coaching,” said Thomas, who is a physical education teacher at his alma mater, Lannaman’s Preparatory School.

Alex Thomas is from a footballing family with his eldest brother Omar of St George’s College fame, also captaining Jamaica youth team in the 1980s, giving them a unique distinction of three brothers captaining Jamaica.

In fact, Shavar, 32, who is currently with North American Soccer league club Fort Lauderdale Strikers, went on to skipper Jamaica senior team for a number of years.

Alex has his praises for both alma maters Lannaman Prep and Wolmer’s Boys for giving him the opportunity to coach, something which he has not regretted.