I created this blog, Richard Jata keeps it going!

With much speculation going around that this blog is written by Richard Jata, I just wanted to bring some clarity to the situation. I(Ben Jata) started this blog when Richard was a Senior at Campbell University. I felt that CU wasn't getting any exposure and I wanted the rest of the country to know more about them. Gocamels.com is CU's athletic website and that is why I named this site gocamels.blogspot.com. After Campbell's season ended, I decided to put the focus mainly on Richard and follow his journey towards a career in professional soccer. His former coaches and teammates, along with friends and family, have really enjoyed the updates I have brought them through this site. I followed him to the combine to give all the readers a firsthand look of what I saw up close. Then he made the trip to the Superdraft, got selected and delivered his memorable speech.

The Chicago Fire drafted Richard with the 58th pick and I made it a point to follow him closely through the 2009 MLS preseason as he fought for a position on the team. This gave the Chicago Fire fans a chance to follow his story along with the rest of the team. People from Chicago really enjoyed the updates because there wasn't a lot of information available at the time. Things started out great, but the ending wouldn't be the same. Denis Hamlett told Richard this as his time with the Fire came to an end; "I think I should give you the benefit of the doubt(because you were sick and injured), but I decided to stick with players I had last year." He said this because Richard had missed a lot of time in the preseason due to an injury and an illness he caught while in Mexico. Still, Richard was the last player in preseason camp to get released(#25 on the roster at the time). Ever since then I have watched my brother fight so hard to play the game that he loves, only to see him disappointed time and time again.

My brother has been training VERY hard the past few months. He has a lot of people in his corner rooting for him, hoping he succeeds, but we can only do so much. If you are a professional coach interested in my brother, talk to Joe Brown(Carolina Dynamo), talk to Doug Hess (Drexel Head Coach), talk to Tom Durkin at IMG Academy. They will all tell you the same thing; Richard Jata is a very talented soccer player with all the potential in the world. He has the raw natural ability needed to be successful at the professional level and his love for the game is extraordinary.

In closing, don't judge my brother by what you read on this blog! I am responsible for everything that is written. If you want to blame someone for being too confident, BLAME ME! The only reason I MAY appear this way is because I have witnessed his success and skill develop beyond belief and I know how great he can be. Richard lives for two things; God and Soccer! He believes it's God's plan for his life, a way for him to witness to others, and I agree. My brother prays before every game and he gives praise to God after every goal he scores. Because of my brother's faith in God and his belief in himself, I know(sooner or later) God will speak to a very lucky coach and say, "Sign this kid, with your help, he will accomplish great things"!

Jata is determined to make it more than ever!

Richard Jata left the Tampa Bay Rowdies Combine with high hopes, but an uneasy feeling in his heart. After being informed that the team was interested, all Jata could do was sit back and wait for that contract offer to be presented. But for some reason, the Rowdies decided to go in another direction. When Jata asked why, he was told that they liked him, but they just didn't know where he would fit into their plans. It seems like some teams nowadays want to go for the safe call, when that "diamond in the rough" is still waiting for his chance to shine. Determining an individuals' ability and maximum potential in just 3 days (with random teammates) is a lot to ask for. Jata's best moment at the combine came when he delivered a beautiful left-footed inswinging corner kick to the back post, where a fellow teammate was waiting to knock it in.

Time and time again, Jata has proven himself, but for some reason he has yet to find that coach who will take him to the next level. He has the marketability (Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick - 2009), he has the support from many followers(almost 10,000 hits on this site) and he's a great kid who just wants to play the game. The 16 videos I uploaded on YouTube have amassed over 14,000 views and the 2009 MLS Draft Summary has over 10,000 views. He's an entertainer (Doing flips after he scores, Best Draft Speech Ever) and he showed us that he can accomplish great things with the time he spent at Campbell. Think about it; Campbell went 20-1-1 when Jata scored, they defeated UNC 3 years in a row(a team consistently ranked in the top 10 every year-Jata scored the game-winning goal twice), and in his final year, when Campbell started the year 2-5(Jata was injured), they finished the year on a 12-game win streak and a 10-0 record in conference play. This streak gave Campbell one of the highest rankings in school history(#22 in the country). They ended up losing the final game of the year against Jacksonville in the A-Sun Conference Final. Jata notched 2 goals in that game, and it is the only game in Jata's history at Campbell that they lost when he scored. Jata was named Player of the Year his senior year in high school (Ridgewood-Pasco County) AND his senior year in college(Campbell-Atlantic Sun Conference). These are the reasons why Furman offered him practically a "Full Ride". Doug Allison knew Richard had the potential to be great. Why else would he tell Jata that he would be better than Clint Dempsey? Did he say it just to say it, I doubt it! Jata proved it! He led Furman in scoring and in total points as a freshman. After Jata was mistreated by the assistant coach, he left Furman and that is when Wake Forest offered him a 50% scholarship. The only reason they didn't offer him a full ride was because they had already given most of their scholarship money away and that's all they could offer him at the time. Campbell offered him a full ride and Doug Hess really took Richard under his wing. Just look at the result....Great Coach + Great Player + Great Teammates = Great Success!

Jata has played for many great coaches throughout his short career; Peter Mannino(played with Pele on the New York Cosmos)-Clearwater Chargers, Tom Durkin-IMG Academy(where he was the youngest player(16) to play for the IMG PDL team), Doug Allison-Furman Head Coach, Joe Brown-Carolina Dynamo Head Coach(played with Sam Cronin), and Doug Hess-Head Coach @ Drexel(Former Head Coach @ Campbell). He also trained with the U.S. National U-17 team under John Hackworth. Ask any of these coaches about the talent and skill level Jata possesses and I highly doubt you will hear anything but praise.

Watch this Rookie Life episode and let me know what you think. My brother is very confident in his ability as a player, but at the same time, he is an extremely humble person.

Jata Performs Well at Rowdies Combine

With the 3-day combine(in Tampa) over and done with, Rowdies executives now have to make their decision on who to sign. Based on what I've heard, I don't expect too many local players to be offered contracts. I'm assuming maybe five, at the most!

Jata felt confident about his tryout, but he still realizes that there is room for improvement. These combine sessions are really hard when it comes to judging a player. A great pass can be overlooked if the player on the receiving end looses it quickly. A great shot can look mediocre, if the goalie makes a great save. Obviously, team cohesion is not all there, but I believe this combine was a success overall.

Brian Shriver, Tanner Wolfe, Ryan Maxwell, Jordan Seabrook, Steven Morris and Richard Jata were just some of the established local players looking to make the cut, featured in this USL news article a little while back.

A few days ago, after the 2nd combine had finished, Jata was featured in another article written by Nicholas Murray of the Tampa Tribune, titled Players Impress Rowdies Management at Combine. Among the others mentioned in the article were Joe Donoho, Kirk LaBusch and Jay Ayers.

Richard Jata has been busy....will he reappear?

(pictured above) Free kick by Jata at Tampa Bay Rowdies tryout

With the 2010 MLS season right around the corner, the Philadelphia Union are set to make some moves. After picking up 15 players in the MLS expansion draft, they still have room on their roster for some bright young talent. Jata has been invited to a second tryout for a soon-to-be Tampa Bay Rowdies team. Will his quest lead him to the USL, or will he finally be able to find a MLS team looking for something more than just a soccer player? Maybe an entertainer? One who can put fans in the seats?

Jata Still On Trial In France - (New Team)

After spending some time with US Le Pontet, Richard Jata has moved on to test his chances with another French squad. Apparently a deal could not be reached, but Jata was advised to stay in France and take another route. The team in question now is AC Arles of Avignon. Since Jata has been out of training for the last few months, the contract he looks to sign would be with their Semi-pro team. I was told that he would train with them for the next 4 months, and thereafter would be signed to their 2nd division team if he shows well. Jata thinks that the training he will endure in the coming months will get him ready to make a run at the AC Arles squad, but if it doesn't work out, he should be in great shape for the start of the 2010 MLS Preseason.

In other news, Jata was recently named the 2008-2009 Outstanding Male Athlete for Campbell University, an award that he is extremely honored to receive. During his final season with the Camels, Jata notched 7 game-winning goals in his last nine games and finished the year with 12 goals and 4 assists. He was also named the A-Sun Player Of The Year. Coincidentally, Jata was given the same award as a senior in high school. That year, he led the Ridgewood Rams to a 17-3-4 record and a #5 ranking in Florida. Jata led the team in scoring with 33 goals and 17 assists(83 points).

The future looks promising for Jata as long as he remains healthy. The training he will receive in France could help expand his game and make him a solid prospect in the years to come. More updates on Jata's journey overseas coming soon!

Jata Gets "THE CALL" - Destination: France

With several countries still eyeing former Campbell University midfielder Richard Jata, a team in South France looks to act first. Earlier today Jata received a call summoning him to France, IMMEDIATELY! After talking to his agent and team personnel, Jata agreed to fly out this Thursday with intentions of signing his first professional contract. All the details have not yet been finalized, but it looks like the team in question is looking to add Jata before anybody else can get a good look at him. This move could prove to be very costly for the Chicago Fire because if Jata signs, they lose every opportunity of having him back next preseason. With Blanco and McBride nearing the end of their careers, the Fire will have to look elsewhere for attacking power.

Currently Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom were just some of the countries expressing interest in Jata, but it looks as if the highly talented attacker will be making the move to France. Jata currently lives in Chicago, but with the seriousness expressed by the team(soon to be released) he might just be leaving the windy city behind for good. Jata's quick departure shows that the team is extremely interested and it's possible that his first professional contract could be drawn up as soon as Friday. More updates on the way!

Here's a sneak peak of the team.........

Rookie Life: Jata Resurfaces With The Fire

Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick just took their most recent episode to a whole new level. This time they devoted an entire show to Richard Jata. A late draft pick with plenty of talent, Jata showed promising skill in the preseason, but injuries and the flu forced him to miss several key games. These missed opportunities left Chicago Fire Head Coach, Denis Hamlett, with a hard decision going into the regular season. Jata was one of the last players to be released among all MLS teams, but his story continues to live on.

Episode 16 - Jata Resurfaces With The Fire gives fans an opportunity to see what the 23 year old has been doing since moving to Chicago. Right now, Jata is happy with where he is at. He's enjoying everything Chicago has to offer, plus he's been staying in great shape. Jata's been biking all around the city, playing in a men's league and continuing to train for his next opportunity with the MLS. Whether that happens this year or next year, Jata will be there with more determination than ever before.

One quick note to leave you all with.....At the 2:20 mark in this weeks' Rookie Life, Jata is shown juggling with his left foot, but dropping the ball shortly after. Don't let this clip fool you! Right before Jata left for Furman University(on a full ride) in August of 2004, he recorded an astonishing 2,316 juggles at just 18 years of age.

Jata's Move to Chicago.....Permanent!

With pro soccer still on his mind, Richard Jata decided a permanent move to Chicago was the right move to make. Lately he's been biking and walking all over the place to get familiar with the windy city. I heard summers are great there, but Jata went there with one purpose, and one purpose only, to get in shape for next year and to learn as much as he could from the Chicago Fire Organization.

Jata's been working like a man on a mission ever since arrival. Even though he didn't make the cut, staff from the Fire Organization enjoyed his attitude and work ethic so much, that they helped him get a job working at Toyota Park. Jata has also been working the soccer camps at UIC(University of Illinois-Chicago), where Chicago Fire rookie, Baggio Husidic, played his college soccer career. Not only that, Jata's been playing full 90-minute games with the B.H. Lilly's, a men's team located in Chicago, to keep his skills fresh, his passing crisp and his killer shot on target.

For more on Richard Jata, be sure to watch Rookie Life next week. The title of the episode is, "Jata Resurfaces With The Fire." Look for it to have some new footage of Jata as he gets to know the city, and where he fits into the equation; the pro soccer equation, that is.

Rookie Life: More Valleys than Peaks

The 10th episode of Rookie Life: More Valleys than Peaks focuses on the low points experienced by a few of the players. Some struggle to finish golden opportunities, while others make mental mistakes. Richard Jata lets you know how difficult it can be when you don't make the team. People believed in his talent, but for some reason the coaches didn't see him fitting in.

After spending the last two months at home with family and friends, Jata has decided to move to Chicago to be closer to former teammate Baggio Husidic and other players on the Chicago Fire. With this move, Jata plans on reuniting with coach Dennis Hamlett in hopes of training with the team.

If you missed the 9th episode of Rookie Life click here

Jata Hits 40-yard Shot! (Happy Mother's Day)

Richard Jata was released by the Chicago Fire in March, but his natural talent and potential will not go unnoticed for much longer. I recently shot this footage of Jata playing some basketball outside of his house in Port Richey, Florida. The one thing you'll notice right off the bat is that Jata sometimes takes basketball to another level. Or should I say soccer? Take a look at the Lebron James of soccer.

Rookie Life: Highs & Lows - Episode 8

Rookie Life: Dairy of a Draft Pick (Episode 8) continues to follow the players through their first few weeks of the 2009 season. Most of them are still trying to adjust to their new teams, while Richard Jata is trying to figure out when, and if, he will get a second chance. The fight and determination are there, but finding the right system is harder than it seems. The Charleston Battery signed some players before Jata got there, making it practically impossible for them to sign him. The MLS will continue to follow Jata's story with anticipation of a triumphant return to professional soccer.

Rookie Life: The Season Begins - Episode 7

With the MLS season underway and Richard Jata still looking for a team, Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick follows him to South Carolina for his trial with the Charleston Battery. They also take a look at how the other rookies played in week one. Almost all of rookies got playing time in week one and fellow teammates and coaches commented on their perfomances. Some shined more than others, but for the most part each player had the opportunity to prove that this is where they belong.

NEW! Rookie Life: The Season Begins - Episode 7

Rookie Life: Teams Take Shape - Episode Six

A new episode of Rookie Life: Diary of a Draft Pick came out today and it brings you some great footage as the preseason comes to an end. Some of the rookies see their playing time increase because the coach still isn't sure where they fit in. There are new player interviews, but for Richard Jata there is some unexpected news followed by a memorable confessional. For the first time you'll get to see what it's like for a player when the coach decides to let them go.

NEW! Rookie Life: Teams Take Shape - Episode Six

Do The Chicago Fire Need Richard Jata?

After a disappointing tie last night, I'm beginning to question whether or not the Chicago Fire need to make some changes. They let a 2-0 lead slip away after some late and questionable subs. Marco Pappa played a great game in place for Justin Mapp, but the defense looked lost at times. Tim ward didn't play the best of games and Thorrington played well, but lost the ball when he tried to take on opposing defenders. It looks as if the Fire are lacking some solid talent off the bench, even though the depth of their bench was heavily praised before the season even started.

Besides the fact that Chicago almost gave the game away, that isn't their only problem. Where did the Fire's fan base go? Last night only 10,000 fans showed up on a Saturday night game. Last year their attendance was near the top of the league and this year a lot has changed. The Fire still remain undefeated, which makes it even more perplexing as to why their fan base is shrinking and not growing. Bringing Richard Jata back to the team has the potential to stir up some talk among Fire fans. His draft speech has been heard around the world and people want to see what this kid can bring to the table. As it stands now, Justin Mapp, Peter Lowry, CJ Brown, Daniel Woolard and Calen Carr are all out with injuries. It looks as if the depth they used to have is running out.

Chicago has one of the best teams and best facilities in the league, but they really need to improve on their marketing and advertising. Give some tickets out during the week. Send some to the radio stations and have people call in to win them. Do some promotions at the local pubs and clubs. Visit the schools and give out some apparel. Pay more attention to the fan base by giving them what they want. Maybe the fans want Richard Jata. If that's the case, bringing him back may not be a bad idea. After all, Jata was the last remaining trialist in camp until the rosters were finalized, plus he played through most of the preseason with a groin injury. Obviously he has talent to be in the pros, otherwise he would've been sent home a lot earlier.

Should the Chicago Fire bring Richard Jata back this year?

Jata Turns Down USL-1 Offer (New Rookie Life)

After spending the last three weeks with the Charleston Battery, Richard Jata has declined an offer to stay with the team through this season. Obviously moving from the Chicago Fire to USL is a step down and Jata didn't see himself fitting into their system. The Battery already had their team established for the upcoming year and they had very little to offer in the salary department. Look for Jata to test the waters in Europe, unless the MLS comes calling first. Some countries already showing interest are Norway, Argentina, Germany and the United Kingdom.

NEW! Rookie Life: Preseason Begins - Episode Five

This episode talks briefly about the rookies getting used to their respective teams and what they're learning from the veteran players.