Allan “Talent” Cole, considered one of Jamaica’s most celebrated footballers and a detailed pal of reggae icon Bob Marley, has died. Sources inform Caribbean Nationwide Weekly that Cole handed away on Tuesday, September 9, on the College Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston after a interval of sickness. He was 74.
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Born October 14, 1950, Cole was broadly thought to be Jamaica’s best soccer expertise. At simply 15 years previous, he turned the youngest participant to be known as as much as the Jamaica senior nationwide workforce, later showing in three FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. Over the course of his profession, he earned the fame as Jamaica’s “most celebrated participant,” dazzling followers along with his pure ability as a striker.
Cole’s profession took him past Jamaica’s shores. He performed professionally in america with the Atlanta Chiefs and in Brazil with Náutico, serving to the Brazilian facet to its first Nationwide Championship look since 1959.
Cole was honored in 2010 with a plaque from then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter recognizing his contributions to Jamaican soccer.
Along with soccer, Cole solid a legendary bond with reggae famous person Bob Marley. He served as Marley’s tour supervisor throughout the Seventies and was credited as a co-writer of the basic 1976 track Struggle. He later returned as street supervisor for Marley’s last tour in 1980.
In 2024, he told Caribbean National Weekly he was disenchanted at being omitted from Bob Marley’s new biopic One Love, regardless of their shut friendship. Reminiscing about Marley, whom he known as a “Jamaican treasure,” Cole mentioned: “If you happen to’re going to do a narrative you should be as truthful as a lot as you possibly can.”
Raised in Kingston, he attended Kingston School Excessive Faculty, later transferring to Campion School after which Vere Technical, the place his expertise started attracting nationwide consideration. His affect on the game and tradition in Jamaica has endured for many years, bridging the worlds of soccer and music.
Information of his passing has left a void in each the soccer and reggae communities, the place Cole’s legacy as a pioneer and cultural ambassador stays unmatched.