Murray chooses Dunbeholden over Waterhouse

Former Dinthill High School and Waterhouse FC forward Rodave Murray has returned to the local Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), but not for the club he started out with.

The 23-year-old forward chose to join St Catherine-based, Dunbeholden, instead of the more established Waterhouse FC.

But the player, who spent the last three years at Laredo College studying kinesiology and playing football, said he just wanted a new environment.

However, his aim is to make an immediate impact in the league and see if he can earn himself a move overseas in short order.

"I haven't been in the island for a while. I have been going to school overseas at Laredo, in Texas. I have been doing my studies and now that I have finished my studies, I am back here in Jamaica playing locally.

"For the first year in college, I got top scorer for my school, but for the second season, unfortunately I got some injuries and it set me back, but I still managed to score a lot of goals, so now I am back here and trying to make an impact in my new team," he said.

Bright seasons at waterhouse

Murray, who starred for Dinthill in the 2016 daCosta Cup, also had two bright seasons with Waterhouse before he departed for university and many will question his decision to join a young, up-and-coming club.

"For me, I was just thinking about a new environment, working with new people in new surroundings. So it's all about new people and new environment for me. So it's nobody's fault, not Waterhouse or mine, why I am not at Waterhouse. Waterhouse is a really nice club and I really liked it there, but for me, I just wanted a different environment," he explained.

Nevertheless, Murray's aim is to re-establish his credentials as a top player and launch his professional career. "For this season, I am trying to score at least 15, 16 goals. I will try to be in the top six, so people can see me in the league, so I can go away from Jamaica to play. I don't really plan to stay here because I want to go overseas to play. That's my aim, to work hard, get some assists and score as much goals as possible, ... I am a goalscorer, and people know me for scoring goals, and that is always my aim. I didn't have the best game today (Sunday). My touch was off. So I am just trying to work my way in. But I still made an impact in the game and got a penalty, but we just have to go back to the drawing board and come back better," he added.

Dunbeholden lost the opening RSPL game 3-1 to Waterhouse, and Murray, who had a fair game, made a major contribution to their only goal, as he was fouled inside the box 10 minutes from time.