Jamaican Win Resonates Locally
When Jamaica qualified for the World Cup last weekend, some members of the Pacific Christian men’s soccer team celebrated, although a bit more mildly than their countrymen.
Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson declared Monday a national holiday in celebration of Jamaica’s 0-0 tie with Mexico, which qualified the team for the World Cup. He called the achievement, “undoubtedly the greatest day in Jamaica’s sporting history.”
The eight Jamaicans on the Pacific Christian men’s soccer team were more subdued, because that event came on the heels of a season-ending 1-0 loss to Northwest (Wash.) College Nov. 15 in the final of the National Christian College Athletic Assn. West Regional.
Last season, Donald Laing and teammate Phillip Levy, both from Kingston, Jamaica, helped the Royals reach the NCCAA finals before losing to Western (Ore.) Baptist, 6-2.
The transition off the soccer field was a little more difficult.
“Oh, those first three weeks here, getting used to the food was tough,” Levy said. “I’d eat, and five minutes later . . .”
It didn’t take long for Laing, a junior, to feel good on the soccer field. He was an All-American selection as a freshman and sophomore and has shown the potential to play for Jamaica’s national team someday, Pacific Christian Coach Rich Davis said.
Laing, 22, came to the United States to hone his skills and get used to different styles of play.
“It’s a much more tactical game here,” Laing said. “I’ve learned a lot.”
Enough to help him fulfill his professional goals someday, Davis said.
“He has a real good chance to go to the World Cup in 2002,” Davis said.
Levy, 20, doesn’t have the same soccer aspirations as Laing. Levy is already gearing up by studying for a business degree before planning to enroll in a masters program in business administration.
“I always wanted to study abroad, experience a different culture,” Levy said. “And God just opened some doors for me here.”
Levy and Laing are the only ones in their families coming to school in the U.S., although Phillip’s father works in construction in New York. Both players plan to return to their homeland and apply what they have learned from the experience abroad.
Both are learning in the classroom, on the soccer field and in campus life. Laing is a resident assistant in the men’s dorm and Levy worked as an admissions associate.
But like anyone else, there are times when they miss the familiarity and the comforts of home.
“I miss the dumplings,” Laing said.
Said Levy: “I look forward to going home for Christmas, the weather is better there. But my faith has grown since I came here. Because you have to stick it out, you just can’t run home. It’s been a blessing.”
