SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — At 22 years old Damion Lowe has achieved his main goal of playing professional football.

But the son of former Jamaican international Onandi Lowe is determined to soar even higher and out of the shadow of his famous father.

Like his father, Damion started his career at the youth level at Harbour View Football Club before journeying overseas. The lanky defender is also considered a utility player having started out playing as an attacking midfielder and striker, before settling at his current centre-back position.

“I always look to surpass his level because a lot of the time people think I am following in his footsteps, but I am really not. I want to make my own path and create my own history and not live in his shadow,” declared the young Lowe.

“He has played at the highest level and represented the country at the World Cup… I also want to play in the World Cup and surpass everything that he has done,” Damion told the Jamaica Observer.

In 2011, Damion received a full scholarship to the University of Hartford where he played 44 games, scoring eight goals in assisting the team to three finals, but was unsuccessful in capturing a title.

But the Camperdown alumnus said that experience, along with playing in the US Premier Development (PD) League, assisted him to “grow as a soccer player”.

He eventually reaped the fruits of his labour last year when he got drafted in the top 10 as the eighth overall pick for the super draft to Seattle Sounders FC, where he has been plying his trade for two years.

And despite being on a guaranteed contract at the Major League Soccer (MLS) club, Lowe is aspiring to one day ply his trade at a European outfit.

“Every player’s dream right now is to play in Europe and I want to play in England, and I want to play in the Champions League, but we all have to start small. There are a lot of things that I want to do, but it takes time and a lot of hard work,” he acknowledged.

“I am at a world-class team and I have been learning from the veterans. I just want to better my game, work hard every day in training and push my talent as far as possible so I can get to the next level.”

Even though he now wants to set his own legacy, the 6’3″ player attributed his current success to rubbing shoulders with international stars, and to the continuous guidance of his 40-year-old father.

“My dad has been my motivation; he has been there for me since day one and I am thankful that he has shared his past experience with me so I can learn from his mistakes and learn from things that he has done well. It has helped me to grow and understand the world more,” he noted.

“Growing up I used to watch Clint Dempsey and lot of other players and now, knowing that I share the same locker room with them is an honour.

Learning from other players that are ahead shows me how much I have worked hard to reach where I want to, and there is more room for improvement and more places to go and I am looking forward to that,” he continued.

Having made his international debut at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in 2013, the former Reading player is currently a member of the National Under-23 team seeking a historic qualification to the Olympics next year.

“The aim is always to transition to the senior team and once I have a solid tournament right now, hopefully I can get into the Gold Cup squad or some international friendly with the national team. But it’s a step by step phase; whenever the coach feels he is ready I am always waiting and always ready to wear the black, green and gold,” he

declared.

Damion, who signed a Generation Adidas deal with the MLS, believes that exposing players to play alongside different individuals in different environments will assist with their mental and physical development.

The outspoken player also offered encouraging words to up-and-coming players.

“Nothing is impossible because there are other players who have been through the system and they made it. So you can achieve anything that you want, just work hard, stay committed and you will have to make a few sacrifices to achieve your goal,” he implored.