‘I was born to play’

THOUGH HE didn’t get the opportunity to take to the field during the Reggae Boyz 1-1 draw with St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent on Friday, Montego Bay United midfielder Demario Phillips is a firm believer that his hard work and ability will pay dividends.

Phillips has quickly become the lynchpin of his Jamaica Premier League (JPL) team Montego Bay United and believes a title is up for grabs for the western Jamaica football side.

“I have been to the JPL finals three years straight and this will be my fourth year there, I know we will get there,” Phillips said of his new unit.

“I have a good team and just hope that all of us stick together. [If] We all perform as one, we go all the way. If not, God has something planned for us so all we have to do is work hard and what we deserve, we will get,” he said.

As for personal ambitions with the Reggae Boyz, Phillips is of the belief he is meant to be where he is.

“Football is always within me… I was born to play,” he said.

In order to make his place with the national team more permanent and to bring home a JPL title, Phillips recognizes he has work to do.

“I need some more man-of-the-match performances. I need some more goals, hoping that the goals come when it matters the most and also some more assists,” Phillips reasoned.

According to Phillips, achieving his goals will not come easy because at this stage of the JPL, there are no easy games.

CHALLENGING

“The lower ones are fighting to avoid relegation, so they would be a bigger challenge for us. We always beat them, but they give us a hard time. The challenging top teams are Mount Pleasant, Arnett Gardens, and Cavalier,” Phillips explained.

Phillips has also had to deal with his fair share of injuries and though he accepted a late call to play in the tie against SVG as cover because of an injury to Casey Palmer and the unavailability of Jon Russell and Karoy Anderson, he is not at 100 per cent.

“Currently I am with the national team and recently returning from an injury. I have been out for about two weeks. Training has been good and I am working on my leg as well, so it is coming on,” Phillips said.

“I am happy to be a part of the national team, as you know that nothing beats hard work. Hard work is what put me here and I will continue working hard,” he added.

When Phillips says he was born to play football, he isn’t joking.

“I grew up beside Ferdi Neita Sports Complex which is the home of Portmore United. I would just jump the fence and go on the pitch. I was going to basic school and used to just walk out with the players during match time.”

But the diminutive midfielder isn’t resting on the laurels of his background in football or on his talent.

He has other reasons to always work hard.

“I don’t like to lose; I always want to win.”

In addition, “I have to represent and bring myself out on the field now that I am representing my daughter,” said Phillips.