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Jamaica’s Richards rising through ranks, still climbing career ladder
Jamaica's Dane Richards has climbed quickly through the professional ranks
Photos courtesy of the New York Red Bulls3/13/2009 - By Michael Lewis
Dane Richards certainly has been enjoying life in the express lane over the past several years.
The midfielder has gone from Montego Bay, to a U.S. junior college, to becoming a professional and even the Jamaican national team.
"In Jamaica, most likely everybody is fast," the soft-spoken 25-year-old said.
Richards’ version of speed is more than just with his legs.
His career has been rising since he joined the New York Red Bulls as a second-round choice in the 2007 Major League Soccer draft. When former Austrian international Markus Schopp went down with an early-season injury, a door opened.
He understands that one level of soccer has led to another.
He was taken sight unseen by San Jacinto Junior College in Houston.
"My friends went to the junior college there, and told the coach about me," Richards said. "The coach hadn't seen me. He just gambled. It paid off."
That gamble turned into U.S. junior college player of the year honors in 2004.
"In Jamaica, when you get a scholarship abroad, it's really a big deal," Richards added.
That led to an opportunity to play at Clemson University. Coach Trevor Adair saw Richards' potential in the pros as a right-sided midfielder, and played him there to prepare the 1.70 meter (5-foot-7) , 69-kilo (153-pound) Richards for life after college. He earned second team All-American honors while scoring 23 goals, setting up 17 others in 42 games.
"The coaches always told me, 'Stay disciplined, keep working hard. You have the tools. You need to refine them. You've got the tools to definitely to play professionally,’" Richards said. "I just listened to them. I tried to get stronger at the gym. I tried to work on my technique, work on my speed and stay disciplined."
Last year Richards turned heads in the MLS playoffs, particularly in the Red Bulls' 3-0 upset of the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo. Richards scored a goal and set up another. The Red Bulls reached MLS Cup, but lost to the Columbus Crew, 3-1.
His goal this season is to be more consistent. "Just improve each and every game and create every game," he said.
"You can only get better. You can't go down. You can only go up each and every year. I can't believe it’s my third season already. It's going to get better. I climbed the stairs and I was at the door. The Columbus Crew pushed me out. So I'm just going to try to go all the way this year."
Richards said he was inspired by the Reggae Boyz in 1998, when Jamaica qualified for its first and only World Cup.
"I watched the guys on TV, and one day I really wanted to do that," he said. "The other day I was talking to one of my friends. When I went to high school, we usually watched David Beckham on TV. Now I am playing against those guys. It's unbelievable."
Richards said he was awed early on playing with the likes of former U.S. international captain Claudio Reyna and one-time Colombian international Juan Pablo Angel on the Red Bulls.
"But I am over it now," he said. "I have a job to do and I have to stay focused."
Richards had hoped to be playing in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, but Jamaica was eliminated in the semifinal stage.
"It was a heart-breaker," he said. "The first three games were our downfall. We did not get any quality results in the first three games. The second round, we won three games, but that wasn't good enough."
So, Jamaica has its sights set on the CONCACAF Gold Cup this July.
"After we didn't qualify, our main focus was to win the Caribbean Cup, which we did already and make it to the Gold Cup. We have to prepare psychologically. We have to get over the World Cup and try to do our best in the Gold Cup. I know we have strong teams in the U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica. We're going to try to do our best. It's our last chance."
Jamaica’s Richards rising through ranks, still climbing career ladder
Jamaica's Dane Richards has climbed quickly through the professional ranks
Photos courtesy of the New York Red Bulls3/13/2009 - By Michael Lewis
Dane Richards certainly has been enjoying life in the express lane over the past several years.
The midfielder has gone from Montego Bay, to a U.S. junior college, to becoming a professional and even the Jamaican national team.
"In Jamaica, most likely everybody is fast," the soft-spoken 25-year-old said.
Richards’ version of speed is more than just with his legs.
His career has been rising since he joined the New York Red Bulls as a second-round choice in the 2007 Major League Soccer draft. When former Austrian international Markus Schopp went down with an early-season injury, a door opened.
He understands that one level of soccer has led to another.
He was taken sight unseen by San Jacinto Junior College in Houston.
"My friends went to the junior college there, and told the coach about me," Richards said. "The coach hadn't seen me. He just gambled. It paid off."
That gamble turned into U.S. junior college player of the year honors in 2004.
"In Jamaica, when you get a scholarship abroad, it's really a big deal," Richards added.
That led to an opportunity to play at Clemson University. Coach Trevor Adair saw Richards' potential in the pros as a right-sided midfielder, and played him there to prepare the 1.70 meter (5-foot-7) , 69-kilo (153-pound) Richards for life after college. He earned second team All-American honors while scoring 23 goals, setting up 17 others in 42 games.
"The coaches always told me, 'Stay disciplined, keep working hard. You have the tools. You need to refine them. You've got the tools to definitely to play professionally,’" Richards said. "I just listened to them. I tried to get stronger at the gym. I tried to work on my technique, work on my speed and stay disciplined."
Last year Richards turned heads in the MLS playoffs, particularly in the Red Bulls' 3-0 upset of the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo. Richards scored a goal and set up another. The Red Bulls reached MLS Cup, but lost to the Columbus Crew, 3-1.
His goal this season is to be more consistent. "Just improve each and every game and create every game," he said.
"You can only get better. You can't go down. You can only go up each and every year. I can't believe it’s my third season already. It's going to get better. I climbed the stairs and I was at the door. The Columbus Crew pushed me out. So I'm just going to try to go all the way this year."
Richards said he was inspired by the Reggae Boyz in 1998, when Jamaica qualified for its first and only World Cup.
"I watched the guys on TV, and one day I really wanted to do that," he said. "The other day I was talking to one of my friends. When I went to high school, we usually watched David Beckham on TV. Now I am playing against those guys. It's unbelievable."
Richards said he was awed early on playing with the likes of former U.S. international captain Claudio Reyna and one-time Colombian international Juan Pablo Angel on the Red Bulls.
"But I am over it now," he said. "I have a job to do and I have to stay focused."
Richards had hoped to be playing in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, but Jamaica was eliminated in the semifinal stage.
"It was a heart-breaker," he said. "The first three games were our downfall. We did not get any quality results in the first three games. The second round, we won three games, but that wasn't good enough."
So, Jamaica has its sights set on the CONCACAF Gold Cup this July.
"After we didn't qualify, our main focus was to win the Caribbean Cup, which we did already and make it to the Gold Cup. We have to prepare psychologically. We have to get over the World Cup and try to do our best in the Gold Cup. I know we have strong teams in the U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica. We're going to try to do our best. It's our last chance."