- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Stephen Patrick (left) and his sister, Candice, display some of the medals they have won in various competitions. Carolyn Johnson, Sports Reporter
CANDICE AND Stephen Patrick are young Jamaican athletes making strides abroad. The two sports lovers are following in their father's footsteps and although they no longer reside in Jamaica, they say it would be an honour to represent the island.
Errol Patrick, a Kingston College old boy, played field hockey for his high school and went on to represent Jamaica in the sport. A certified sport fanatic, he now takes pleasure in propelling his children to success.
"I try to encourage them to do well with all sports," Errol said with a proud smile as he showed The Sunday Gleaner team his children's wall of honour at their home on Dennis Avenue in Arlene Gardens, Kingston.
When Stephen left Jamaica for Florida he had already completed one year at Jamaica College (JC) and was a member of their tennis team. At Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory, he played football, his sporting passion.
"From a little boy I've been playing sports. My whole family, my cousin was on the Manning Cup team at JC," said Stephen, explaining his obsession while pointing to a playing field they used to frequent when he lived here permanently.
Still, he says he's into all kinds of sports: football, track, basketball, lawn and table tennis and cricket.
"Every sport, any sport, I'll take up to play. I tried roller blades but that didn't go too well," he said.
In Florida, Stephen attended Forest Glen Middle School where, at 11 years old, he was the captain of his school's side. He also plays for a football team called the Renegades Soccer Club where he also serves as captain.
Freshmen
When he entered high school he was one of two freshmen on the team. Now, at 17, he is the captain of Coral Springs High School's team before his senior year. Less than a year ago, he took up track and field doing the 800m and 4x800m. However, football is his first love.
"It's mainly what I love to do. I tried track because Candice does it. Football, that's what I love," he said.
Though he alternates between midfield and sweeper, the former is his favourite position.
"I prefer to be involved in the game, offence and defence. In the centre I can move freely," he explained.
Meanwhile, with a bright smile and petite frame, 14-year-old Candice, who is leaving Forest Glen Middle School to start at Coral Springs High in September, is closely following the men in her life. For fun, she says, "I play football."
A sweeper, she plays for both her club, Renegades, and school, where she too serves as captain. The talented athlete also runs the 400m and mile which her father boasts she completes in five minutes and 45 seconds.
"I want to follow in my brother's footsteps and I want to keep active," she said when asked why she chose sports. "I used to do ballet but when I went to Florida, sports was the main thing and I decided to do football because I used to watch it, though I never understood it," she explained.
"I tried long jump but it never worked out," she said with a laugh.
The two have mastered their skills both on and off the field where they are also certified referees and the siblings are also members of the National Honour Society.
Candice says that achievement was simply a matter of focusing and paying attention in classes. With more than more four hours spent on the field almost every day, Stephen says that balancing school and sports takes hard work.
"Lots of determination and focusing. Sometimes you come home tired but no matter how late it is you have to get the work done," he said.
Both say their ideal careers would have to involve mathematics and finance. And while they say they miss Jamaica dearly, they feel that their success is also success for the country of their birth.
"It feels good because you're representing Jamaica. People will see you at school and call you 'Jamaica' or 'Kingston'. I give Jamaica a good name. A lot of people respect me," Stephen said proudly.
