Gordon Williams | Jamaica Gleaner
Attacking midfielder Kadeem Dacres, a player with strong Jamaican connections, was chosen in the final two rounds of the Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft Tuesday.
Dacres, 22, who was born in the United States (US) to Jamaican parents, was selected by Chicago Fire with the eighth pick of the fourth round.
Listed at 5′ 8″ and 155 pounds, Dacres, formerly of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the US, is quick and skilful. He has represented the US at age-group level and was overjoyed at the opportunity to play in North America’s top professional football league.
“I’m just thankful a team saw something in me,” said Dacres, whose mother Sharon and father Mark are from Kingston.
His agent, former Jamaica international Damani Ralph, who once played for Chicago, believes Dacres has a good chance to stake a claim in the league.
“I have big hopes for him,” Ralph said. “I think he has a lot to offer in terms of his skill set. He has the necessary tools to stick with an MLS team.”
Midfielder Romena Bowie, another Jamaican prospect in the latter draft rounds, was not selected by any of the 19 MLS clubs. Yet, overall, the 2014 SuperDraft proved successful for Jamaicans. On January 16, three – André Blake, André Lewis and Damion Lowe – were among the top 10 first-round picks.
Blake was the first goalkeeper in MLS history taken with the highest overall pick. He was chosen by Philadelphia Union. Lewis, a midfielder, was selected seventh by Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada, and defender Lowe at eighth by Seattle Sounders.
early selection
Lewis and Lowe, both represented by Ralph, are expected to join their respective clubs within the next week. Lewis is currently in Jamaica awaiting a Canadian visa, the agent said.
According to Ralph, the early selection of the trio is evidence professional clubs have confidence in Jamaican players.
“I don’t think North America has never respected Jamaican talent,” he explained. “I think the concern they’ve always had is the level of professionalism. That has improved. The success of Jamaican players in MLS shows that to be the case.”
Prior to the 2014 draft, more than a dozen players with Jamaican roots were listed on active MLS rosters.