PENNSLYVANIA, USA — Like most boys, Je-Vaughn Watson had big dreams as a youngster growing up.

His dreams, however, were not ones of fantasy that often fill the heads of kids.

Watson, the former Garvey Maceo student, as early as 10 years old or so, knew he wanted a career in football. He wanted to represent his country Jamaica at the World Cup.

That desire is yet to bear fruit, but today the 29-year-old will be seeking to reap from another vineyard when the Reggae Boyz contest the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kick-off time is 8:06 pm (7:06 pm Jamaica time).

“When I was young, I dreamt of one day representing my country and I have done that, and by playing for Jamaica. I always wanted to win trophies to make my country proud,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Now he has his chance, having copped medals as Caribbean champions, to make one more dream come true.

“It would mean so much to me as I remember playing in the streets of Jamaica when I was young and, to come all this way to see yourself in a final like this, playing in front of a packed stadium, is almost unbelievable.

“So to win a medal from the game would be so good for me and the team, and you know we always put the team first, don’t matter what we do, and then we play for ourselves and Sunday it’s not going to be different,” said Watson, often regarded as exemplary team man.

Watson, fondly called ‘Akka’ by friends and relatives, said he would want to win the Gold Cup not only for his teammates and country, but his mother, who is his biggest fan.

“My family is calling me to say they saw my picture in the paper and people are talking about me. My mom in Jamaica is so excited…she told me she went to the supermarket and everybody was talking about number 15 and she said she was so proud although nobody knew she was my mother,” he said.

But while the FC Dallas midfielder has had a successful professional career in MLS, he continues to dream of bigger things.

“I have also dreamt about playing in England, but now everything seems to be coming together and we are just taking it one step at a time, and if it’s God’s will, I will play in England one day,” Watson said.

–Sean Williams