Golden Jaguar international, Curtez Kellman, says that he is scheduled to depart local shores this month to resume his athletic scholarship with Daytona State College within the Region VIII conference of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA).
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday, the emerging central midfield talent stated that the new season is quickly approaching and that he is eager to resume playing college football, which is vital to his overall development.
“I will be departing local shores this month to start the new season and I am excited. The season is starting next month. I am very excited about it, and would be excited for anything about playing football. Obviously playing is the most important thing, playing and get more minutes is better for me and better for my development. I am eager to play and return and that’s the most important,” he explained.
Kellman received the scholarship offer from the Florida-based institution after he unfortunately lost his initial scholarship at Eastern Florida State College due to the financial effects of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
Daytona State College (DSC) is a public college in Daytona Beach, Florida, in the US. It is part of the Florida College System. DSC competes in the NJCAA Mid-Florida Conference (Region VIII) in 10 sports: men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s golf, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, softball, and baseball.
Asked about his focus and goals for the upcoming season, he responded, “The focus this year is to get to the national tournament with the school and try to win it. I think we have the quality to go far this year. Hopefully we do some good recruiting this semester and strengthen the team further.”
Daytona State Men’s Soccer programme defeated University of South Carolina Lancaster 7-0 to claim its second Southeast District title in five years, with their previous triumph occurring in 2016. Kellman was on target during the lopsided encounter which earned the team a place in the national championship.
Daytona State ended the divisional season with a programme best record of 8-0-1 which included seven clean sheets.
Kellman, who once donned the colours of Georgetown Football Club (GFC), pointed out that the college circuit is a stepping stone towards acquiring a professional contract in Major League Soccer (MLS), which is the highest level in the United States.
“This is a stepping stone for me to push for the MLS draft. This could play a pivotal part and this is the thing about the college setup, once you are there and getting excellent performances, you stand a chance to get into the MLS. I have to keep working hard.”
Kellman, who was a member of the Golden Jaguars final squad for the 2021 Gold Cup Playoffs, revealed his disappointment in not featuring during the Guatemala clash which ended in a 4-0 defeat for the Guyanese.
“I rather be there [Daytona] and getting to play regularly and being seen on an international stage instead of coming home and not getting minutes with the national programme. “Obviously it was disappointing for a player to play all the time in college and not getting minutes with the national programme, but these things happen and I am trying to push and keep working hard so next time when selected I get the minutes,” the midfielder said.
