Lewis looking to bounce back

Portmore United’s midfield ace Andre ‘L.A’ Lewis, has returned home after he failed to tie down a permanent contract overseas since he was drafted by the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2014.

Lewis was the MLS number seven draft pick in 2014, but he was loaned out to Charleston Battery and Whitecaps FC 2 (Vancouver’s affiliate) in the lower tier United Soccer League (USL) before spending two seasons with the Portland Timbers 2 in the same league.

But after nearly five years trying to break into Major League Soccer (MLS), Lewis decided to return home and is back at Red Stripe Premier League leaders Portmore United. In an effort to rebuild his confidence and his career, and so far, he believes that he is on the right path. He was certainly helpful on Sunday, scoring in the 86th minute to help his team to a 3-0 win over Arnett Gardens.

SETTLING IN

“I am settling into the group. I’m settling in quite fine because Portmore is my youth club team. I know a lot of the guys from before, so settling with the guys was easy. I didn’t find it hard. My ambition for sure first is to win the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), both the league and the play-off with Portmore.

“But the main goal for the year is to make the national team, get into the Gold Cup team, try be a part of the team for every game this year.

“But the major plan is to go back overseas. That’s the aim, and that is why I want to be in the national team because it is the quickest route to get back overseas,” Lewis said.

Lewis, who helped Jamaica qualify for the 2011 under-17 World Cup, said that his performance in the RSPL can get better, but argues that the poor quality of local fields is having a major impact on his performances and he hopes there will be more attention and improvements to the playing surfaces in the future.

Room for improvement

“I am not going to say I am satisfied (with performance) as there is always space for improvement, but I am not going to beat on myself and say I am doing good or bad. I am going in the right direction and I just need to continue working hard towards the end of the season, so coming towards the play-offs, I should be fine and you can see Andre Lewis playing his best again.

“But my main issue is the fields. I have to make that adjustment, and I am still working on it.”

Lewis was also pleased to be reacquainted with former St George’s College teammate, Cordel Benbow, at a recent national training camp.

“It (training camp) was good because I was back with my friend Cordel Benbow, and that was a joy for me, as I haven’t seen him for a while. I had to adjust, and some of the (senior) players I wanted to see, they weren’t there, but I still worked hard, and whenever they call again, I am going to do my best and show the coach what I can do,” said Lewis.