Goalkeeper Ryan Thompson, who has long been the recognised second-string in the senior Jamaica football squad since making his debut some 10 years ago, has a first-rate attitude.
Thompson, 30, may have come to the recognition that a look-in for him may have been near impossible, considering that number one goalie Dwayne Miller has been in spectacular form in the CONCACAF Gold Cup so far.
With that reality facing him day in and day out, the Pittsburgh Riverhound player remained upbeat that one day, and very soon, he would get his chance to shine for the Reggae Boyz yet again. And, as fate would have it, it came sooner than expected. But the sad twist to this amazing story of perseverance is that Thompson has taken his opportunity with mixed feelings.
The former Tampa Bay Rowdy regular was called into action for Jamaica in their 1-0 win over El Salvador in their final match of Group B, which propelled the team to the top with seven points. Thompson was a first-half replacement for Miller, who took a boot to the face and had to leave the field of play.
The former Ardenne High School student had his chance. And he claimed the opportunity with both hands, making critical saves that helped his team keep a clean sheet and to victory at the BMO Field here on Tuesday evening. “I was proud to go out there and represent the country despite the circumstances how I went in.
And with my wife around, family and friends, I am just happy to put in a performance like that in front of the crowd and in front of the nation, as I know a lot of people were watching tonight,” said a beaming Thompson. “I am happy about the performance, but saddened under the circumstances for what happened to (Dwayne) Miller,” he added.
The former Jamaica youth player revelled in his matchrescuing saves, having entered the field of play in the 23rd minute. “They were important saves, but it’s all about preparation, trying to stay focused and keeping my mind on the game,” he noted.
Thompson, who excelled at Harbour View FC before departing on a scholarship to the USA, admits it’s not easy to remain motivated when you are, in essence, being seen as the number two man. “
It’s very difficult because you have to face family and friends, coaches, and everybody asking ‘why aren’t you playing’, but for me the team comes first and I always try to give anything necessary for the team.
“If the coach says to me, ‘Ryan, you need to sit’, I will sit, but that won’t stop me from going to training everyday and being a competitor… I like to win, so I compete every single day. And you see the pool of goalkeepers we have, and everybody has got the opportunity, and everybody has taken it so far,” Thompson reasoned.
But Thompson has shown before that he is a top-class act once he gets the stage to strut his stuff. But he knows, perhaps more than anyone else, that the plot doesn’t always go to script.
“Last year I had my first run in Japan and I represented well, and I was hoping to continue that performance, but again, that’s not what the coach wanted and I have to go with it… the most important thing is the team and I am just happy to get the job done tonight (Tuesday night) for the team,” he said.
Thompson, who became the first Jamaican to play in the Champions League with Irish club Shamrock Rovers, said it’s a source of motivation when there are strong characters and personalities in the team.
“It’s a special group of players that we have… it’s hard to explain, but I have never been around a group like this as nobody feels he is bigger than what is happening, everybody helps each other.
“If you are having a bad day, someone will say ‘listen, come on, I have got you’, and if you are working hard and not getting playing time, there is going to be a player to say to you ‘keep working man, as I admire your work ethic and everything you’ve been doing’,” he expressed. Those qualities of camaraderie, Thompson claims, are critical for success.
“Those are good ingredients for a great team, and to know that there is a Jamaican team that possesses all these qualities, I am just proud to be a part of that.
“As long as we keep this core group of players together, the sky is the limit for us. We need to just continue growing from strength to strength in this competition, and [especially] now that we are building towards the 2018 World Cup as that is the most important thing as we need to qualify,” he argued.
But as Jamaica pursue glory at the Gold Cup, the mission is more than just winning a championship, at least for Thompson. There is a bigger picture, he claims.
A more important goal to be scored. “It’s very difficult to go places when people don’t respect us as a country, and that’s what we are fighting for — respect.
We need to get respect as everyday we take the field: that’s what we are fighting for and for our country and for the next (set of) guys coming behind us,” he noted.
Source: The Jamaica Observer