‘It’s nice to be back’

When he got his call-up from Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers (WCQ) against the Dominican Republic and Dominica, Arnett Gardens' talisman Fabian Reid said it was the opportunity he was always waiting for.

Reid was a late addition to the Hallgrimsson-led squad for Jamaica's World Cup campaign on Thursday. He replaces striker Corey Burke.

The man they call 'Pawko Blacks', Reid said it is a dream come true to represent the Reggae Boyz in a World Cup qualifying campaign.

"To be honest, I feel excited. It's a dream to play in World Cup qualifiers and a dream to bring my country to the World Cup so when the coach called me, I told him 'Okay, yes coach I will make it. I will find a way to reach the camp'," Reid said.

The Arnett Gardens striker enjoyed a prolific season in the recently concluded Wray and Nephew-sponsored Jamaica Premier League where he ended the campaign with 13 goals, including a goal in the third-place play-off against Waterhouse FC.

His goalscoring form saw him selected for the local squad which played a pair of friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago earlier in March where the Boyz won the first match 1-0 before drawing the second match 0-0.

Reid provided the assist for the winning goal in the first match.

"To be back, it's nice. We did a good job over there when it was all about the local team. We go over there and we played two games and we won one and draw one. So it's a big win for us and it was a big start that so if we can just do it every game at a time, it would be good for us as a country."

He said while wearing the national colours on any occasion is an honour, playing in the World Cup qualifying campaign is a 'big achievement' in his career.

"It feels good to be in camp with the Boyz for this big one, the World Cup qualifiers," he said. "It's a dream that I've always wanted to help go to World Cup so it's a big achievement, it's a big aim and it's a big welcome.

"We really want to qualify because from 1998 to now, I think this is the right time. I've always dreamed about it and I think it's coming to pass so I just want to get the chance to deliver for the country."

The Reggae Boyz play the Dominican Republic on Thursday at the National Stadium before travelling to Dominica for their next game on Sunday, June 9.