Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Khari Stephenson (right) powering past Canada's Patrice Bernier during Sunday's friendly international at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 2-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
When Jamaica won last year's Digicel Caribbean Cup, a lot of praises went to the attacking players who were banging in goals left, right and centre. But the unsung hero of that campaign was Khari Stephenson.
The tall and strong 25-year-old midfielder was the man responsible for organising the midfield and making sure the Reggae Boyz kept their shape. He was the holding or central midfield general or the 119 policeman.
Stephenson, the son of Ambassador Stewart Stephenson, president of the Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), was once again called upon against Canada on Sunday, to play that critical role that was evidently unfulfilled last week during Jamaica's failure to defend the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
More offensive role
The Gleaner caught up with Stephenson, who plies his trade with Swedish club GAIS, moments after he finished his first training session with the Reggae Boyz at Collie Smith Drive on Wednesday.
He was sipping a bottle of Wata and looked as cool as ever, just the way he is on the field.
"How are things in Sweden?" I asked, looking upwards towards Stephenson's 6' 4" frame. His eyes lit up with anticipation.
"It's going well. Right now, the coach is having me playing a more offensive role. Before I was one of the two holding midfielders and now I am the attacking midfielder, right behind the forward. I am getting more into attack, creating more chances and taking a lot of shots," he explained.
Stephenson's more attacking role saw him scoring twice in September, once in a 2-0 win against Djurarden on the 11th and again in a 2-2 draw against Kalmar on the 30th.
"Two in the last month," he said with a pleased look on his face. "In different countries they play different systems and being a Jamaican player you have that extra you can always add to the game. Our style of play, a lot of defenders can't handle it and playing for GAIS I have learnt to be a much better player off the ball and that opens up a lot more, if not for yourself, for someone else."
Stephenson, who played college soccer at Williams College from 2000 to 2003, is not a goal-shy person as was evident in his outstanding record at College. In his senior year he scored 15 goals for the team and finished his career there with 40 goals and 18 assists.
He was a Division III First-Team All-American pick in his junior and senior seasons, and says he is always improving.
"I am always improving. The more you play, you know your mistakes and learn from them."
Stephenson's club is currently 10th in the 14-team Swedish league on 24 points from 21 games. They trail leaders Elfsborg by 16 points.
Khari was Jamaica's first footballer drafted recently into the leagues in Sweden, where he was followed by Luton Shelton, Teofore Bennett and Jermaine Hue.
A good life
Khari, who has a degree in economics, is enjoying life in the Scandinavian country with a population of nine million.
"Life is good. It can always be better, but it is good enough right now."
Sweden has a low population density except in its metropolitan areas, with most of the inland consisting of forests. The country has large natural resources of water, timber and iron ore. Its citizens enjoy a high standard of living in a country that is generally perceived as modern and liberal.
"The official language is Swedish but most people speak English, so communicating is no problem," Stephenson pointed out.
When quizzed about the food and his living conditions, Stephenson shrugged his shoulder saying with a smile that he is on his own "but I have the same food I have here, chicken, rice".
By 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, the mild-mannered Stephenson was transformed into a warrior as he entered the National Stadium - the Office - fighting to bring back pride to the nation's much-loved sport that has been badly hurt.
