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From the Pitch – "Reggae Boyz"

By DEVON WILLIAMS, Louisville City FC, 05/31/18, 8:49AM EDT

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Two-time USL Cup champion explores the impact players from Jamaica have had on the league and the connection they share

Jamaica is a small island of just 2.9 million people.

By comparison, California, the largest state by population, has approximately 39.7 million people. To do the math, it’s just a measly 36.8 million difference. No biggie, just a couple more people and we (Jamaicans) had them.

With a nation so small, one would wonder what contributes to Jamaica’s ability to consistently produce world-class athletes. I wish I could point a finger at a specific reason, but I can’t.

What I can do, is tell you two factors that I think play key roles. One is genetics and the other is the food we eat. Genetically, I think Jamaicans were just born with a little more athleticism than others. As far as food goes, we eat a lot of foods that are known for enhancing strength and stamina etc.

Ground provisions such as yam, green banana, dasheen and sweet potato are frequent in our meals.

We eat more than just jerk chicken and oxtail, despite popular belief.

Despite making up just 0.0004 percent of the world's population, Jamaica’s influence on the world is huge. “We likkle but we tallawah” is a common saying in Jamaica, meaning although we’re a small nation, we’re strong willed and not to be underestimated.

Apart from athletics, the influence of Jamaican culture has expanded beyond its borders through music. Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley’s music made, and continues to have a huge impact on listeners worldwide. Breaking down barriers and paving the way for others such as Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Popcaan among others. 

Jamaicans take great pride in the fact that our music is loved and played around the world.

In a similar way, the USL has definitely been feeling the Jamaican influence over the years.

At least one Jamaican has played major roles in the last three USL Cup championship teams.

Asani Samuels and Kenardo Forbes starred for the 2015 Rochester Rhinos. Junior Flemmings and myself were a part of the New York Red Bulls II squad in 2016, and I was again blessed to be apart of the 2017 championship team with Louisville City FC.

Not to mention, Dane Kelly, another Jamaican, is the all-time USL leading goal scorer.

Don’t get me wrong now, I’m not saying it’s a must to have a Jamaican on your team to win a USL Cup, but you just might need one or two to be on the safe side.

There are more than 30 Jamaicans currently listed on rosters across the league and there have been many more in previous seasons.

The league has grown immensely over the last few years and so has the number of Jamaican players plying their trade here.

"Despite making up just 0.0004 percent of the world's population, Jamaica’s influence on the world is huge. “We likkle but we tallawah” is a common saying in Jamaica, meaning although we’re a small nation, we’re strong willed and not to be underestimated."

Since the league’s growth shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, up-and-coming Jamaican players are much more attracted to the league.

For me, this is my fourth season in the USL and I’m grateful for all the lessons learnt along the way that aid in my growth as a player. Starting my professional career in the New York Red Bulls organization was a blessing.

Following my time there, my transition to Louisville City FC was seamless.

Being under the guidance of the coaching staff allowed me to play my way back onto the Jamaican national team’s radar.

I was called to represent Jamaica in an international friendly against Canada in September and Saudi Arabia in October of 2017 respectively.

A couple months before my call-ups, four Jamaicans on USL rosters at the time played integral roles in Jamaica's run to the Gold Cup finals. Cory Burke (Bethlehem Steel FC), Damion Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Sergio Campbell who was playing for the Rochester Rhinos and Romario Williams from the Charleston Battery.

We lost to the U.S. - but that’s a story for another day.

The Jamaican influence is being felt throughout the USL, but it’s safe to say that USL has also been a huge influence in the Jamaican players careers.

The league certainly prepares us for when opportunities like representing our country arise.

As I stated earlier, Jamaica is a small country, so all the names mentioned knew of each other before we got in the league. We were either teammates or rivals back home.

Most of us established ourselves in the Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup (Jamaica’s high school competitions). Some would argue that it’s the biggest soccer league in Jamaica, bigger than even the men’s national premier league.

The Manning and DaCosta Cup is heavily marketed and televised.  The better players are usually recruited to represent the country at the junior level.

National team camps are then where the connections are made.

It’s where we go from being rivals to friends.

Those friendships continue today. We naturally follow each other’s progress during the season. Every now and then, we’ll call up one another to say congrats on a goal or a win.

Whenever I’d travel to one of their cities, we try to link up if we had the time. We either “run-a-boat,” which means to cook a quick meal; chill and talk about the game, or find our way to the club.

Seeing that we’re on the topic of visiting each other’s cities, I’d like to take this opportunity to warn Neco Brett from Pittsburgh and Junior Flemmings down in Tampa Bay that if a plate of ackee and saltfish - Jamaica’s National Dish - with dumpling, yam and banana is not presented to me after the game, our friendship is over.

All in all, the USL has been good to and for the Jamaicans.

The increase in the amount of players in the USL has allowed fans in Jamaica to pay more attention to the league.

Our accomplishments are now being recognized on national TV, radio and in newspapers.

The next generation of Jamaican ballers are now aware of what we’re doing and are inspired. This is something that is important to us as current players because it gives them hope that their dreams can also become a reality.

I can only pray we continue to succeed and make our families and friends back home proud.

P.S. I hope Brett and Flemmings know that I’m serious.

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