Pint-size giant holds Clan Carthy hopes

At just 15 years old, Dejorn Lewis is already in his second season of ISSA Manning Cup football, competing against players several years his senior while trying to carve out a future in the sport.

Despite his age, the Clan Carthy midfielder and winger says he is unfazed by the challenge of playing at the schoolboy game’s highest level.

What he lacks in physical stature, he more than makes up for with skill, determination and maturity, earning recognition as one of Clan Carthy’s key players.

Lewis has drawn praise from head coach Nallawe Blake, who believes he is part of a talented generation of young players emerging at the school.

Blake said Lewis possesses technical ability well beyond his years and that the coaching staff are focused on ensuring he continues to develop within the programme.

However, he acknowledged that the youngster’s biggest challenge is his size, noting that he is physically smaller than many players in his age group.

“He’s just 15 but he already played the Manning Cup last year because, as you can see, his first touch, his movement on and off the ball, is better than anybody on the field,” Blake said.

“He can actually play U16 again so he’s an exceptional talent. But I don’t know if it’s his body, because you know when scouts look, they look at players with more body,” he continued.

“But he’s a very good player, that’s all I can say. He’s a bright boy and a very good player.”

Big dreams

For Lewis, playing in the Manning Cup is the first step towards fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

Although he is not attached to a club team, Lewis said he hopes to play overseas and believes schoolboy football can help open those doors.

“I want to go overseas to play football,” Lewis said.

For now, his focus remains on helping Clan Carthy turn around its Manning Cup campaign.

The team is yet to earn a point after suffering back-to-back defeats in its opening-round matches.

Lewis is hopeful the team can reverse its fortunes and mount a charge for a place in the second round.

“The losing thing, I don’t like losing,” Lewis said. “Anytime we lose, we feel like, we don’t feel good so we want to win and we want to go far.”

Clan Carthy’s next assignment will see them travel to face Papine High as they continue their search for a first win of the season.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com