Damani Ralph not about to give up now

LIKE TOM Hanks marooned all by himself on a lonely island, Damani Ralph is looking to force his way through a castaway-like situation, only that it's in heavily populated Russia.

By the Reggae Boyz own admission, he underwent a rugged orientation - both on and off the field - in the former Soviet state to the point where he had harboured thoughts of quitting the scene.

However, his personality wouldn't allow it and the philosophical and strong-minded Jamaican striker is mounting a determined fightback at Rubin Kazan, his Russian premier league team.

Reminiscing on his orientation in an interview with The Gleaner at the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament where he is representing his national team, Ralph said: "It's been difficult, a big, different environment, culture shock, a different style of football. It hasn't been the best transition for me.

"In the beginning it was difficult because they (teammates) didn't seem to be offering much help but six, seven games into the league they sort of came around. Its better now, they're warmer towards me now because they see what I can offer to the team," he said.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

Continuing, Ralph admitted that he may have been at a disadvantage too because of a language barrier he never did much to break.

"Part of it is my problem, I wasn't too willing to learn the language because I didn't really like the situation that I found myself in, I wasn't too interested," he said. "Honestly, I had second thoughts about staying in Russia so I never really embraced the language the way I should. But I've learnt a few words, I know most of the football words to communicate on the field but for conversation purposes I'm not at the level yet to hold a conversation."

Just months earlier, things appeared so hopeful, so promising for the Chicago Fire 2004-05 MLS Rookie of the Year, as Spanish Primera Liga team Malaga and several other clubs in Europe, including Russia's Rubin Kazan, were hunting the Reggae Boy's signature.

His scoring exploits at Chicago, where he played alongside fellow Jamaica star, Andy Williams, had made Ralph a hot commodity with 11 goals in a break-out year that drove his team into the MLS final.

The Malaga deal fell through because as Ralph points out "... the player who they were hoping they would've gotten, he didn't get his European passport and the transfer window closed".

RUSSIAN LEAGUE

Immediately, Rubin Kazan had a deal on the table and next thing the former St. George's College Pepsi, Colts and Manning Cup baller was kicking his way into the Russian league.

Why Russia?

"I live my life my way," he says with a great deal of assurance. "Everybody wants to play in England but in life everything doesn't go the way you want it. You've got to go through curves and corners and at the end of the day you either want to end up there or you don't. "For some people England is where they're supposed to be and they get the opportunity. For me, a next good opportunity has come for me in Russia. I see it as a next opportunity to explore and I seized it."

Challenged by a host of unusual circumstances, Ralph was asked to explain the effects of such negativity.

"I use it to motivate me. I'm very dedicated, once I commit myself to something I always want to prove myself. It definitely gives me a challenge because if I can help my team to come first I'm going to do that.

"At the end of the day it's a championship. But it's just life, sometimes things don't go the way you want them to go.

"It's a different environment there (in Russia), different style of football as they play with only one forward so I've to just give it time. Maybe because I'm such a perfectionist, I expect that when I come in things are supposed to just go the way I want and it has not happened, so I'll just have to suck it up and deal with it and maybe later on things will brighten up."

Several months on, things have actually gotten brighter as his team is now sitting second in the league championship, which he thinks could have been better if they had some more luck.

"We're second in the premiership behind Lokomotiv and in front of CSKA and Sparta, some big clubs, so hopefully we can qualify for maybe even the Champions League or even the UEFA Cup," pointed out Ralph, who followed the footsteps of his father, Robert, and the eldest of four brothers, Jerome White, on to the football pitch.

The 24-year-old striker added: "It's still early, 2-3 games from the half point, the leaders are probably 6-8 points ahead. We gave up some easy points earlier, we lost some games we should've won and drew some that we should've won also, we could even be first right now. Hopefully we can continue our good showing."

Another plus is the club is set for a spot in the top club league.

Savouring the thought, Ralph said: "It's a big opportunity, it gives me a chance to play in the Champions League which is the biggest tournament in the world."

The reflection of his effort on the club scoresheet, in even his own opinion, is a modest one goal in 12 matches.

"I've started in seven or eight games and came on in the rest but I only have one goal and, like I said, it has not been the best transition but I'm still trying my best," he admits.

A realist who has won Under-16 and Under-20 titles at Harbour View, the only club where has played besides doing stints at Bull Bay, Ralph, who is honest enough to talk about his shortcomings, pointed out a similarity with Rubin Kazan and the Jamaica team that he will work hard to change.

SCORING

"For some reason my fortunes with scoring haven't been the best with the national team," he said. He has played for Jamaica both as a starter and sub and admits that "I've gotten my chances and if you have players in front of me who are scoring they've to get the nod, that's just the way it is. If you want good, your nose have to run and if you've a dream you've to do whatever it takes to live out the dream."

Right now, a host of strikers have been used at the Gold Cup in the starting team. They include Ralph in the game against Mexico, as well as Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton, Jermaine Johnson and Teofore Bennett.

"This is a work and whoever is performing the best needs to be out there," Ralph stated matter-of factly.

"It just makes the job more competitive for the position and it will help the country because if you have two, three, four people giving you goals you've more people to go to.

"Hopefully I'll get a starting position at the end of the day but right now I have to play at my best in whichever way to help the country. Hopefully I can get my scoring boots on and cement my place."

- A.B.