'Ready for a big move' - Reid confident of taking next step in career
Published:Monday | May 28, 2018 | 12:00 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
After a second successive season in the Maltese Premier League, Phoenix Academy product Kemar Reid believes he is not far from making the breakthrough to one of the more prominent football leagues in Europe.
Reid netted four times for Maltese club, St Andrews FC with one of his strikes being named goal of the month, and after a fine all-round campaign, the 23-year-old believes he is ready to make the step up to a bigger league.
"I just need to work confidently and work hard towards the goals. I want to go to mainland Europe to play and do my best," he said.
Reid, who has been on trial with Club Brugge in Belgium and Cardova in Spain, admits that he has room for improvement, but he is confident that with more consistency, hard work and focus, a transfer will materialise.
"I just need to continue scoring goals. There is a lot more room for improvement, so I just need to continue working hard, stay focus and play consistently. Once I do that, I can play in mainland Europe," he said.
"Malta is a stepping stone. It is a really good league; it's a professional [league]. It is somewhere you can start and then go to mainland Europe. It has been tough, but I have the tools, and once I am in the system, I will adapt and perform," Reid stated.
READY FOR IT
"If a contract does not materialise ahead of the coming season, Reid intends to make an even bigger mark in Malta.
"If I do go back to Malta, I will be ready for it. I will be looking to make a bigger impact, so they (bigger Europe clubs) can see me again. I want to score at least 15 goals, that's my target, and (help the team) be in the top three," he said.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Academy patriarch Craig Butler believes Reid is next in line to break into one of Europe's top leagues.
"Kemar is the epitome of Phoenix. He has been down many times and has picked himself up. He was in a major accident and he recovered physically and mentally. He is now more mature and more focussed," said Butler.
livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com