Rowdies’ Damion Lowe walking in father’s footsteps

Young Jamaican follows international tradition of his family

Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Damion Lowe seen taking practice at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. This is Lowe's first season with the Rowdies after being on loan to Minnesota United FC.  Yoram Kerbel/Toronto Observer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — From father to son, the Lowe family has passed down a love of soccer.

Damion Lowe, Tampa Bay Rowdies defender, is the son of the Jamaican soccer legend Onandi Lowe, and the younger man has always worked to better that legacy.

“His name is very heavy and it carries its weight to have to live up to a lot of responsibilities and expectations, but it is what it is,” said Lowe, in the shade after practice last Thursday. “It comes with the sport. Just have to continue to do well and make everyone impressed.”

Lowe is at the beginning of his Major League Soccer career, while also playing with the Jamaican national team. His father had a lengthy soccer career playing 12 years in the MLS and nine internationally.

One of the greatest moments of Lowe’s career, and his family’s pride, came on Feb. 17, 2017, when he scored his first international goal against Honduras. Only after the game did he realize that his father scored his last international goal against Honduras.

“It was awesome,” said the young Jamaican. “I didn’t even know that until after the game. I told my Dad and he just laughed. It’s good to follow in his footsteps.”

This is the defender’s first season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and he understands that only a select few make it in professional sport, so he’s aware that he might need to make a career change at some point in the future.

Lowe is interested in the business industry and already has a website that sells some clothing he’s designed.

“Yeah, I have some good ideas. I have a lot of connections in the clothing and business industry. So, I have a lot of help to get what I want,” he said. “It’s just that soccer is a full-time job and I have to focus on that.”

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Posted: Mar 15 2017 8:09 pm
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