Reggae Boy Damion Stewart changes style, reaps club, national rewards

GORDON WILLIAMS, Star Writer

In the furore that swept through Jamaica's football the past few weeks - missing and suspended players, a trio of international games and abrupt departure of the national coach - Damion Stewart's elevation to captain of the Reggae Boyz against El Salvador and Panama slipped quietly under the radar of overwhelming public notice.

Yet, while Stewart receiving the armband and the right to lead his country in two recent 'friendlies' surprised some locals, and came largely because of the unavailability of other senior players, recognition for the man called 'Stew Peas' has long been growing - if not in his homeland, among observers elsewhere. The 28-year-old central defender secured the Most Valuable Player honour for English club Queens Park Rangers last season.

"You get different respect, in my eyes, abroad than you get a 'yard'," Stewart said prior to playing against Haiti on May 23.

doubts

But Stewart had earned Jamaicans hard-to-shake doubts from his days as a local player, with a rugged, sometimes erratic style. Then, his approach, primarily as a Harbour View player, was copied from his 'idol,' current national teammate Ian 'Pepe' Goodison.

"Me grow a see 'Pepe' a box down boy and a kick down boy so me feel like seh that was the way to go," Stewart admitted.

But during three seasons with QPR in England's Coca-Cola Championship, after leaving Bradford City in the lower leagues, the 6'3", 190-pound Stewart has altered his approach. His unwillingness to risk his professional career - not to mention earnings - spurred the revision. 'Stew Peas', it appears, has simmered.

"Going to England, you box down boy and you kick down boy, yes, but yet still you get cards (cautions) and five cards and you start miss games and when you miss games you miss money," said Stewart, who made 43 club appearances last season, earning four cautions, but no ejections.

"And when you miss games and somebody goes in and takes your place and they do well, it kind of shows you up."

His earlier style did not impress Jamaica's coaches either. For years Stewart struggled for a permanent place in the national team. He filled in when bigger names, like Goodison, were unavailable. He was not selected for early games in Jamaica's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. But Stewart had already altered his approach, although remnants of the old 'Stew Peas' still surfaced.

"You have to change your game in order to be more successful and people start to look at you differently," he explained.

"(I've shown) improvements and got smarter. Certain things still inna you, but at the same time you do it when the opportunity comes."

Jamaica has not often given him the chance he believes he deserves.

"Me ready long, long time, you understand?" said Stewart, who has played some 50 times for Jamaica. "Me just don't get the real opportunity fi show dem seh me ready. Me just always figured as a reserve or a backup and inna my eyes a nuh me that."

crucial appearances

A glimpse was offered last year. Stewart made two crucial substitute appearances in the Boyz's late-surging - but failed - run in the World Cup qualifiers. Now he appears ready to cement a permanent place. Stewart also signed a two-year contract extension at QPR and was at the heart of a defence that recorded shutouts in close to half their games last season. Consistency in England has boosted his confidence.

"Me nuh wear the captain's band, but me a di leader fi my team," said Stewart, who netted four goals for QPR in 2008/09, third on the club's scoring list.

He showed that against Haiti when his 88th-minute header snatched a 2-2 draw for the Boyz.

It all should translate into a prominent role at next month's CONCACAF Gold Cup, even with the departure of coach John Barnes following last Sunday's 3-2 win over Panama. Current coach Theodore Whitmore trusted Stewart with playing time against Mexico and Honduras in World Cup qualifiers.

However, several veterans, like Goodison, Marshall, Shavar Thomas and Claude Davis are in contention for roles in central defence, recently reduced from three to two under Barnes's new 4-4-2 formation. Less experienced players, like Adrian Reid, Desmond Breakenridge, and possibly Stewart's own brother Demar, are also in the hunt for Gold Cup spots.

Yet, concerns have been expressed over who will fill the void in Jamaica's defence when Marshall, 34, Goodison, 36, finally leave the international stage. Barnes was not shy in tipping Stewart among the front-runners. Goodison sees Stewart as a worthy successor too, but 'Pepe' has declared that all challengers must battle "to the end" for his job.

It doesn't bother Stewart who is available. He just wants fairness.

"Me just feel like seh whoever on top of the game at the time they should just play you," he said.

At this point, 'Stew Peas' believes, he already has all the right ingredients.