Ocho Rios’ Reid dreams of a daCosta Cup title

WITH JUST two games to go in the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup, history-making and history-chasing Ocho Rios High School’s Keanu Reid can almost taste his dreams coming true.

Reid, Ocho Rios’ leading goalscorer, is trying to take a team to a place they have never been. Already, they are in rarified air, becoming the first team from St Ann to make a daCosta Cup final four and did not look overawed when they played in their first Champions Cup semifinal on the weekend, despite the 5-1 loss to Glenmuir.

That dream, having come to an end, still leaves a very lofty goal for Reid.

“My target this season is to go further with history and win the daCosta Cup title for the first time. I would love that. It would be history for a St Ann’s team to win and that is my dream. This year, our school has created so much history. Having contributed to that, I feel really proud of myself and the team, so I am pleased,” said the 18-year-old, who has already notched 24 goals on the season.

The history-chasing Ocho Rios have been making waves this season and Reid’s performances have been a big reason for that.

Reid contributed two braces to help advance Ocho Rios to the quarterfinals, and to a win over St Catherine to move them into the semifinals of the Champions Cup.

Reid was also on target in the quarter-final, teaming up with Robert Morris to get by Garvey Maceo and punch an unlikely ticket to today’s semi-finals at the National Stadium.

Ocho Rios will be up against McGrath in a game that begins at 3:30 p.m.

The game, the curtain-raiser in a doubleheader, will precede one between Glenmuir and McGrath at 6:00 p.m.

Speaking of Glenmuir, that team has caused the biggest challenges for the history-making Ocho Rios.

“They are the team this season to score the most goals on us. In the Champions Cup, our aim was to try our best and win over them, but it didn’t work out that way,” Reid explained.

In two encounters, Glenmuir have given Ocho Rios their biggest defeats, 3-1 in their first meeting, and 5-1 in the Champions Cup to knock them out of the semis.

With the zeal to do his best, the hardworking striker has worked on his finishing for today’s game. That work, while targeting today, began many years ago.

“I started playing football when I was eight years old when I attended the Exchange All-Age in Ocho Rios. When I left, I attended Mount Pleasant Academy for two to three years. It was a good experience; it was my first time being in a football club,” Reid told The Gleaner.

“My uncle is my biggest motivation. He is always trying to push me and telling me to always do the right thing. He tells me that I can do it and he also believes in me,” he added.

Reid, like many of the youngsters in the daCosta Cup, has dreams further afield as well.

“My dream is to go to the pros. I would love to play for Manchester United, it is my dream club,” Reid declared.

“I want to gain something from football. When I see players who also played in the ISSA competition playing in English clubs, it gives me even more inspiration.”