‘Ninja’ has big dreams for St Bess United

Dwayne ‘Ninja’ Plummer didn’t realise his dream of being a full professional football player but he hopes to help St Bess United create history by qualifying for the local Premier League.

“I think we have the team, and it’s not because we are leading the (Manchester/St Elizabeth) Super League, which the winner will qualify for the Premier League play-off, but we have excellent players,” he said.

Plummer is one of the most experienced players on the St Elizabeth-based team, which also includes former Premier League players Nickoy Smith and Taj Coley.

Romario Smith, Demar James, Newnel Shaw, national under-15 player Rajay Wright and Chris-Andrew Dixon are also prominent members of the team, which recently won the St Elizabeth knockout title.

The team is coach by Linval ‘Palla’ Wilson, former national defender, assisted by Damion Mullings.

Plummer, who was a part of the Jamaica Under-20 team in 2003, played some five games before he broke his hand, which somewhat slowed his progress to professional status.

“We got a break from camp, and I went back in my community where I went to play an idle football game and got my left hand broken,” Plummer recalled. “I was invited the following year again, but that was as far as it went with the national team.”

In 2005, however, Plummer, who was playing for his community club Thornton, was drafted by Premier League outfit FC Reno. He played with the Westmoreland-based team for five years.

“It was a good experience because I was a regular starter,” said Plummer, who played with players like Nicholi Finlayson, O’Brian Woodbine, Evon Taylor and Duwayne Kerr, all of whom played for the national senior team.

“Even though I didn’t get to play professional, I learnt a lot from playing at that level, which is the highest level of competition in Jamaica,” said the former Maggotty star.

Plummer left Reno for Arnett Gardens, where he joined the likes of Kevin ‘Pele’ Wilson, Cornel Chin-Sue, and Fabian Davis, all national players.

“Playing among more experienced players was great. They taught me a lot, and I was thrilled to have spent some time in their company,” said Plummer, who had a few winning stikes for Arnett Gardens.

Plummer, who also played for August Town, Appleton and Holland PYC, said he was grateful for the opportunity he got from football.

“Things didn’t work out as I expected it to, mainly because of injuries throughout my career, but I am still grateful,” said Plummer, who plays forward and midfield. “I enjoyed myself playing the beautiful game and still contributing, even though my professional career may be over at this moment.”