NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD striker Daniel Clacken, a junior player at Brazilian club Ibaracu and currently on trial with the National Under-20 team, is one of only a handful of Jamaicans to ever live, learn and play football in the land of the five-time world champions.

The former Waterhouse resident who migrated to the United States at the age of 11 said he has always harboured hopes of playing for his country, and now that he has the opportunity, he hopes to make the most of it.

Clacken is working to cement a place in the final squad that will travel to Guatemala in April, from where he hopes to successfully launch his senior national career.

“I’m definitely looking to do good here so I can be considered for the senior team,” the soft-spoken youngster told the Sunday Observer during a training session last week at the UWI Bowl.

“My friends in Brazil always joked and asked me if I would like to play for Brazil, but I’m realistic and don’t think that I would make the Brazilian national team.

“But I’ve always wanted to play for my country and now that I have the chance, I want to do my best,” he added.

The former Balmagie Primary School student said he lived among many Brazilians while in the United States and after some promising display for Beacon High School, decided to accept an invitation from one of them to play in the South American country at the age of 17.

At first, his stay in ‘Samba Land’ lasted for six months, but after his visa expired, he renewed his stamp and has been developing his craft in Brazil ever since.

He describes himself as a very physical and versatile player who is a natural goalscorer.

“I started out playing at centre-back, but I found that I’m always scoring goals, so I made the switch to forward.

“But I have played all over the pitch although I like playing centre-back and forward,” he revealed.

Clacken says playing in Brazil has been a rich experience and he is confident that one day he will make the transition and become a professional player.

“Playing in Brazil I have more of a chance, because there are so many clubs and all of them, big or small, all teach the same thing.

“The only difference… is the income, but right now I’m just concerned with the development,” he said.

“After I’m through with the development… I’ll shoot for a bigger club, but there is a great chance to become a professional there,” he added.

According to Clacken, in Brazil, learning football is like a subject or a trade which begins at the infant stage from age three to 13.

Between the ages of 13 to 18 or 19 they graduate from the junior level before turning professionals.

“So I’m on the border of being a professional,” he stated, pointing out though that some players turn pros before that time — some because of age and others because of skill.

“There are some exceptions like Pato (AC Milan in Italy), who at 16 was already a professional because of how fast he learned or how talented he was,” he explained.

He wants to leave Ibiracu in November and join Serrano FC in Rio as he believe that could be the start of a senior career in Brazil.

“I have more development to do first, but my goal is to reach that club (Serrano), as they have launched the careers many players,” he stated.