‘It was unbelievable’

AT 17 YEARS old, Cavalier’s Adrian Reid Jr seems on his way to a career that includes an international component, the promising starlet now earning his first nod with a Reggae Boyz squad.

The youngster has been picked in head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson’s squad to take on the Dominican Republic and Dominica in the opening games of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s always been a dream of mine to be called up to play for my country and to represent. I’m ecstatic,” he said.

“It’s a great experience. There is a lot of quality, and it really pushed me. I’ve got some motivation from the senior guys, so it’s a great experience.”

It has been an interesting past year for Reid, who has been quickly rising through the ranks of Jamaica’s national youth teams.

Reid was a member of the Reggae Boyz under-17 squad at last year’s CONCACAF U17 Championships, where he scored his first international goal, a cheeky back heel in an exciting 2-2 draw with Costa Rica.

He would later be called into John Wall’s under-20 Boyz squad, captaining the unit to automatic qualification for the CONCACAF U20 Championships set for July.

According to Reid, the opportunity to represent Jamaica at any age group is one he would never pass up.

“To represent my country, I’ll do anything to represent my country. Once the call comes, I’m there. Moving from the under-17 to the under-20, now to the senior team, I’ve put in the work. I’ve been focused, so it feels good, and I hope to continue this.

“I’m really looking forward to, hopefully, making my debut and to put in the work that the coach believes that I can. I’m grateful for the opportunity that I got. The coach really believes in me, so I’m hoping to fulfil that belief.”

The name Adrian Reid would be familiar to Jamaican fans as his father, Adrian Reid Sr, also represented the Reggae Boyz.

He explained that while his father has been a major supporter of his career, his love for the beautiful game grew naturally.

“He didn’t force me to play football,” he said.

“I always had that love for football. Obviously, going to matches and watching him, I developed that love for the game on my own, but he really pushed me, motivated me, always giving me advice and always there if I need anything, so he’s a really good influence.

“I was actually at a friend’s house, and I saw the message. I knew I was in shock. I sent it to all my family members, and I called everyone. It was unbelievable!”