Campion College bank on ‘crazy’ GK James for Walker Cup

To be a goalkeeper, individuals have to be a little different - sometimes even crazy.

Campion College may have one of those in Alex James, whose ability is only matched by his confidence, which he displayed in their ISSA/Digicel Walker Cup first-round win over Jose Marti yesterday at Calabar High School.

Campion College won 4-1 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 in regulation time. Shemar Hanchard scored in the 35th minute for Jose Marti before Kai Myles equalised in the 53rd minute after benefitting from a goalkeeping error, with the ball inexplicable going under Jose Marti's Gavin Messam.

James says his confidence comes from not only his ability but his self-belief in being able to keep his composure on behalf of his teammates in any situation.

"I try not to get down, especially when a goal goes in because I am the leader from the back. I may not be the captain, but I am responsible for the defensive line and if I get my head out of the game, then we can concede one, two, three goals," James told STAR Sports.

In the penalty shootout, it was that confidence that led him to make two saves in the first and second rounds, paving the way for Campion to finish the job from the spot. James said he had no qualms about being able to deliver.

"I think I have a certain amount of confidence to believe that I can save it no matter how unstable a shot may look. I know that I can save it," James said.

It is that ability and belief that head coach Ashton Morgan has confidence in his ability to someday marshal the backline for his country, with his play dismissing doubts at the beginning of this schoolboy football season.

"At Campion, we had some crazy 'keepers and he is one of the craziest ones you will ever meet. Everything about him is crazy. I said that if the goalkeeper is our problem, then we have no problem. This is someone that can easily be a national goalkeeper. He is one of the top players in the programme in the island," Morgan said.