In Real Salt Lake’s preseason match against the Portland Timbers on Thursday, a ball popped free at the edge of the 18-yard box and three players all converged on it. Omar Holness, Jose Hernandez and Ricardo Velazco all had eyes on erasing RSL’s deficit, but as if deterred by magnets, Hernandez and Velazco deferred to Holness. With a confidence spurred by his recent appearance with the Jamaican National Team in a friendly against the U.S., Holness uncoiled on a rocket shot that hit the net to equalize in the 3-3 draw.
It was a key moment in the match and came on the heels of a big moment in Holness’ career.
“It’s always very important to me to represent Jamaica. Playing against the U.S., it wasn’t the result that we wanted, but there were many positives to take away from the game. That’s one thing as Jamaicans we have to look to,” Holness said. “It’s a great experience learning from different players – players that have been through different things. It’s definitely a confidence boost, of course, going away to play with the national team and then coming back to RSL.”
Holness now has four caps for Jamaica and entering his second season with Real Salt Lake, has lofty goals for himself and for the team. But he isn’t one to just sit back and hope that things work out. During the offseason, he says, he put in the work to improve his fitness. Inspired by midfield partner Kyle Beckerman, he saw the little changes he can implement in his game to make a big difference.
After his first season, in which he played nine games with RSL and an additional eight appearances with Real Monarchs in the USL, he knows he has plenty of room to improve, particularly in a competitive midfield that features steady veterans and ambitious young players fighting for playing time.
“I worked on being a lot fitter. I learned that from Kyle. You have to be the fittest on the pitch. If you’re not, you can’t cope with the rigors of the game. I worked tirelessly on that,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from last year. I’ve set goals and accomplishments that I want to achieve, but at the end of the day the team comes first and I want this team to be successful. I want this team to win a championship.”
To reach that championship level, RSL will rely on a balance of veterans and youth and nowhere is that more prevalent than the midfield. With Beckerman and Sunny returning in two of the three starting roles and Luke Mulholland always providing competition, RSL General Manager Craig Waibel has added Luis Silva, Albert Rusnák and Jose Hernandez to the middle of the park while also having several other versatile options that can compete for time, as well.
That mix of old and young players has created competition each day on the practice field that made the goal on Thursday a big boost for Holness.
“The level of hunger in the locker room will never deplete. I think that the young players bring that tenacity and that hunger and desire to improve,” said Holness, 22. “Once we have the younger guys growing with the experienced vets, the sky’s the limit.”
So which game is Holness most looking forward to in 2017?
“MLS Cup,” he beamed without hesitation during a recent appearance on Facebook Live.
With confidence continuing to rise among young players who are also willing to put in the work to make an impact, it may be a more realistic goal than it sounds.
