Sun | Apr 28, 2024

Damion Lowe hails family legacy after Boyz milestone

Published:Saturday | March 30, 2024 | 12:08 AMGregory Bryce/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica’s Damion Lowe (centre) controls the ball against United States’ Malik Tillman (right) and Gio Reyna (left) during the second half of a Concacaf Nations League semifinal match on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.
Jamaica’s Damion Lowe (centre) controls the ball against United States’ Malik Tillman (right) and Gio Reyna (left) during the second half of a Concacaf Nations League semifinal match on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

With Jamaica’s 1-0 victory over Panama in the Concacaf Nations League third-place play-off, national defender Damion Lowe equalled the number of international appearances made by his father, Onandi Lowe.

Lowe will now look to surpass his father’s appearances, as the Reggae Boyz prepare for the first of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) used social media to congratulate the defender on his milestone achievement.

“62 caps up for [Damion Lowe]. The same number of caps as his father, Onandi Lowe,” the caption read.

Damion made his senior debut for the Reggae Boyz in 2016, under then head coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore. He was a starter in Jamaica’s Caribbean Cup qualifiers fixture against Guyana.

62 APPEARANCES

Since then, the defender has gone on to make 62 appearances for Jamaica, which included an appearance in the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup final.

Damion has also worn the captain’s armband several times, with his first captain’s appearance coming in a 2019 Nations League B fixture against Aruba, and his most recent captaincy coming in 2023, a Nations League match against Honduras.

Damion hailed his family’s legacy on social media following the milestone’s acknowledgement by the JFF, and expressed his gratitude to those who helped him along the way.

“Really can’t believe this is a reality, this means so much to me and my family. Thank you to all who have helped me to get to this milestone. It is not an easy road but I cannot give up until I help to bring the glory days back to the ‘Land of Wood and Water’,” he wrote.

Like his son, Onandi made his international debut in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, when he was named as a starter against St Lucia in 1995. Onandi’s last appearance for Jamaica came in 2004 against Honduras.

Onandi was a member of the Jamaican squad that competed at the 1998 France World Cup, an achievement his son hopes to replicate.