Kemal Malcolm happy with Reggae Boyz call-up

Arnett Gardens FC's top marksman, Kemal 'Tull' Malcolm, is delighted about his first call-up to the national senior men's squad, saying that hard work is paying off.

Malcolm is having a very good Red Stripe Premier League season with 12 goals so far, his latest coming in his team's 6-0 swamping of FC Reno on Sunday evening at the Anthony Spaulding Complex in Trench Town.

"It was a great experience being in the senior team training camp last week. The training was intense, high class," said Malcolm, who was among 22 local players, after a three-day camp broke last Thursday.

He is fully aware that it won't be easy to get into the team.

"It will not be easy, but I intend to put in the hard work and see where it takes me," the 26-year-old speedy striker told The Gleaner.

Malcolm represented the country at the under-20 and under-23 levels. The former Lannaman's Prep and St George's College Manning Cup star had refused contracts with clubs in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago in order to help his home club win back-to-back national league titles.

"Things are in the works. I got offers from El Salvador, Guatemala, and T&T but decided to stay at Arnett after having a poor season when Arnett won the title last year," Malcolm disclosed.

"My main focus is to help the team, and I'm having a good time in front of goal with assistance from my teammates," the diminutive player added.

TOP-SCORER AMBITIONS

He is also eyeing the top scorer's award in the RSPL this season. Dino Williams (14 goals) and Cory Burke (12) are both away on overseas deals.

"Of course I want to win that award, so I will continue putting in the work in training and continue scoring goals for Arnett," he said.

Arnett's coach, Jerome 'Jerry' Waite, had high praises for the player.

"Hard work, consistency, and understanding his role has helped him. After scoring two goals last season and coming off the bench, he has improved, and with the absence of AndrÈ Clennon, was elevated to a starting role," Waite said.

"He is always creating chances, so any team would want such a player. Sometimes the playing surfaces have not helped.

"Tull is a player who dominated prep school and Manning Cup football by scoring lots of goals. He is now doing better in the Premier League," observed the veteran schoolboy and club coach.