PHOENIX, Arizona — He had suffered a huge backlash for abandoning his Reggae Boyz teammates on the eve of their quarter-finals in Baltimore at 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament.

Now two years older and wiser, 23-year-old defender Alvas Powell has said that that unfortunate episode is now firmly in his rear view mirror.

“Yeah, a distant past; 2015 is done, so I have forgotten about everything. what is important now is the quarter-final tomorrow (today) and I’m focusing on the task that we have in front right now,” Powell told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Shortly after the incident, which brought much outrage from fans, especially after the Reggae Boyz soldiered on to advance to their first-ever Gold Cup final appearance, Powell issued an apology.

“Firstly, I would like to sincerely apologise to the people of Jamaica, the (Jamaica Football Federation), and my teammates. I am truly sorry this situation has occurred, as I wanted to play for my country in the Gold Cup. Unfortunately, things were not handled right and I take full responsibility for my actions,” his statement said.

And the player said at the time that his decision to leave had nothing to do with a purported lack of playing time.

“This wasn’t to do with lack of playing time,” his statement added, though he noted that he would not go further into the matter “out of respect” for his teammates.

However, yesterday the player hinted at what might have contributed to his leaving camp in the middle of battle two years ago.

“I’m feeling great because the coach that we have now gives young players the chance and he’s not only just a coach, he’s like a guy that you can go and talk to with anything, so I’m more comfortable now than 2015.

“Then the coach (Winfried Schaefer) didn’t speak English and so he just speaks to one set of players all the time, so those players had the privilege to do whatever they wanted,” claimed Powell.

“But this coach, on and off the field, you can talk to him about your problems and stuff like that and on the other side he gives you a chance, and it is for you to go out there and take your chance and play to the best of your ability.”

And like his teammates here, Powell is optimistic that the 2017 version of the Reggae Boyz can repeat victory over Canada today.

“I think we have been working hard each day in training, and for this moment it is for us to go out there and show what we have been training all week, so we expect a pretty good game and the boys are ready for this one.”

The Portland Timbers right back has been bombing the flanks in the three previous games and he told the Observer that he’s enjoying his game in the black, green and gold once again.

“It’s been a while I’ve not played a tournament like this, so I’m enjoying it, getting my chance to play for my country, so it’s a great feeling and I’m having a lot of fun.

“I’m pretty confident, we have a solid backline, we have a nice goalkeeper, midfield, striker; it is for us to put everything together and show that in the game and no doubt come out with three points (win),” he ended.