Lowe overcomes pro-schedule for Xmas cheer

For national defender Damion Lowe, the holiday season represents the opportunity to spend quality time with family, which has not always been the case in his hectic professional career.

The year 2021 has seen him balance duties with his Egyptian club Al-Ittihad and on the international scene - playing part in the Reggae Boyz's World Cup qualifying campaign which started in September.

"Family and close friends are most important in my life," Lowe told STAR Sports. "They are who drive and motivate me. So being able to set aside my everyday life to spend quality time with them makes me complete."

Lowe, 28, has so far had a career that has taken him to the United States, Norway, and his recent stop in Egypt, playing in his second season with Al-Ittihad. The life of a professional player does not often allows him breaks to return home for the holidays, but he says he has found ways to make it work when the job takes him away.

"As a pro, we don't get much time off so most times I'd try to improvise when I'm away. A FaceTime dinner or Zoom call to open gifts does the trick," he said.

But when he is back home, he says that he takes advantage of the desserts that his family will have at various homes, ensuring that he has the comforts of home cooking that he is used to.

"I'm from a big family, so I'd bounce from yard to yard to drink sorrel and eat the Christmas cake and potato pudding," Lowe said.

Now a father himself, he says that the time he spends with his children is what make the holidays important. While he does not have a year that stands out, Lowe says that their happy faces during the traditional gift giving will always be the most enjoyable moment.