PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — It’s a long way, in more than just terms of distance, for Clayton Donaldson.

For the lad who grew up in Bradford, England, he has made the proverbial long haul from the veritable professional ranks of the British game to the privileged throne of international football with Jamaica.

But it was not the start he dreamt of as his new-found Reggae Boyz suffered a humiliating 0-2 defeat to Panama in a crucial Russia 2018 World Cup-qualifying game on Friday with thousands of Jamaican fans in audience at the team’s breached fortress, the National Stadium.

The agony of the defeat runs deep with the 31-year-old Donaldson, but still he found a positive note as he made his debut as a second-half substitute in a largely pathetic display.

“It was a great honour and pleasure to come on and finally represent Jamaica, but the result kind of dampened that. To come and represent Jamaica, even coming off the bench, is something I have waited for so long to do,” he told the Jamaica Observer in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince yesterday.

While he thought his teammates worked hard under the circumstances, the pressure of playing at home, he added, can bring its own set of challenges.

“The atmosphere and pressure playing at home (is not easy) and the fans want to see good football, but sometimes you have to respect the other team as I thought Panama came and really played good football.

“I think we were beaten by a better team on the day. It was just not our day, but the players kept working hard as they wanted to win at home and keep the fans happy, but sometimes it does not go as straightforward as that,” Donaldson argued.

In his stint on the pitch, the former Hull City player has seemingly won over the Jamaican crowd. Still, they will want to see more of him if he’s to be fully embraced.

His tenacity, in particular, appeared to have hit a chord with some.

“That’s how I play as I like to put myself about, but I will just try to help the team in any way I can where I think it is lacking, and I think I was able to get up there and cause a bit of problem, and as I said I am just willing to help the team in any way possible,” noted Donaldson, who became eligible for the national team through his Jamaican-born grandfather.

But for the Birmingham City striker, his first taste of international football has whetted his appetite. And with Haiti on the horizon, he’s hungry for another bite of the cherry.

“If we can win on Tuesday that would kind of put us back on track and I am ready to do my bit for the team,” said 6ft 1in striker.

On Friday, he came off the bench, but like any other player, Donaldson is prepared to work hard for the possibility of being considered for greater roles down the road.

“Only 11 players can play at a time, and I came on Friday and made a little impact, and if I start or come from the bench on Tuesday, I will just do my best to help the team in any way possible,” he said.

After Friday’s start to the CONCACAF World Cup-qualifying fourth round, Jamaica and Haiti are at the bottom of Group B without a point, while Panama lead on goal difference over Costa Rica, who clipped the Haitians 1-0 in San Jose.

Like other first-time visitors of the Reggae Boyz team, the poverty-stricken Haiti experience so far has been an eye-popper for Donaldson.

“The only thing I knew about Haiti was the earthquake five years ago, and it was really bad as it was all over the news worldwide, but actually coming to Haiti is a new experience and I didn’t realise it was this bad really, and it’s a definite eye-opener,” he expressed, truly surprised at life in the French-speaking neighbour of Jamaica.

Already, the former Hibernian attacker is seeing another benefit of international football.

“It’s good to know the history of different countries though, and that’s one of the benefits of playing international football,” said Donaldson.

Although he was born and raised in England, Donaldson said he was never far away from his ancestral roots.

“I have been visiting Jamaica as I have family in St Ann, just outside Ocho Rios, and when I was in Kingston, I had my aunt and my cousins come see me at the hotel. I love Jamaica, and to be called to the national team is a great honour,” he noted.

— Sean Williams