PANAMA CITY, Panama — Alika Keene could be on the periphery of realising two life dreams — playing in a football World Cup and becoming a specialist in the field of research medicine.

Both desires have taken on new meaning in the recent past with her being called to Jamaica’s Under-20 World Cup qualifying teams and being accepted to the Ivy League USA university, Harvard.

News of both summons have induced rapturous responses from the 18-year-old USA-born midfielder.

“It’s a great honour to be back at the U-20 level and it’s just good to see everybody again who was part of the U-17 team,” said the Florida resident, who was a member of the Vin Blaine led Under-17 Girlz who competed in the CONCACAF Finals in Costa Rica in 2010.

After scoring 2040 out of a possible 2400 on her Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) last year, Keene was taken on another wave of joyous spendour when Harvard called to say, “You are in”.

“It was like relief and excitement all at once as there was always a small portion of doubt and I had so much weight on my shoulder, so when I found out that I got in it was just relief,” said the former student of Eustis High School of north Florida.

Keene, whose mother is Jamaican and father Panamanian, said she is beyond herself with happiness to be here for the eight-nation CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship that will qualify three teams to the FIFA age-group World Cupn slated for Japan in the summer.

“It would be so awesome to go to a World Cup; this (CONCACAF tournament) is just one step away, but to be in the real thing would be really cool,” she said.

If Jamaica are successful in their bid of a historic women’s World Cup berth on this occasion, Keene would have had one dream come true.

If not, she could always find comfort in the pursuit of the other, which she claimed would bring her equal satisfaction.

“I always thought about being a doctor, but my decision to go into the research area of medince came late in the day… after doing chemistry and biology and doing the disections I realised I like being in the lab and I guess it just came together,” Keene said of her other passion.

Today, she will begin that journey of being part of another quest for football glory as she was named in coach Vin Blaine’s starting team to face Mexico in the opening game of Group A of the CONCACAF play-offs. Kick off is 7:30 pm, the same time as Jamaica.

Jamaica will then play Canada on Saturday and close out their preliminary campaign with a match on Monday against neighbours Haiti, with all matches set for the Romel Hernandez Stadium in this Central American City.

” I remember from playing these countries is that Canada is pretty quick on their passing and they were muscular and wouldn’t give up the ball, but Mexico were a little more on the creative side, but I don’t know anything about Haiti,” said Keene.

She said she will bring her simple but effect brand of football to the team, which she thinks will complement the other styles in the 19-member squad.

“I like to play quick and just do the simple things; when I look at the other girls they have so much touch skills, so I will be a bit of change from that as I like to distribute,” Keene told the Observer.

Head coach Blaine, in his efforts to strike a balance with the varying playing dimensions, has opted for an intricate mix of brain, brawn and skill into what he hopes to be a competent unit capable of getting the job done at the ending of the day.

And he has received a Keene endorsement. “You need that kind of contrast on a team, a bit of diversity as you will recognise on other teams you play…

“The overseas will bring some composure and knowledge, while the local girls will come with the foot skills and knowledge too, so combining those will be really good,” said the prospective bio-chemist.

Keene, who was visiting Jamaica for the first time last week when she participated in a five-day camp prior to the team’s departure here, said she would not have reached her current station in her young life without her doting father Wade and mother Fiona.

“I get a lot of support from my family and my dad is always looking for ways to improve my game… They (parents) give me all the support in the world,” beamed the only child.

Keene said actually visiting Jamaica and training with the full Young Reggae Girlz team was an eye-opener.

“The first time I played for the team I went straight to Costa Rica from the States, but this time I got to train with the team in Kingston and that was good for building chemistry, knowing my role and who I will be playing with, so that was good,” she concluded.

KEENE… It would be so awesome to go to a World Cup