Ryan Johnson finding comfort zone with Reggae Boyz

Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

After bouncing around among teams in North America and Europe during the early part of his professional football career, seemingly unwanted, it was ironic that a club's decision to hold on to him cost Ryan Johnson a place where he is beginning to feel so comfortable today - Jamaica's national squad.

The striker made his debut for Jamaica back in March, 2006, a 1-1 away draw with the United States, where he played about 70 minutes of that match. Then, he looked forward to an extended stint with the Reggae Boyz. But when Jamaica wanted Johnson to go to England later that year for two friendly internationals against Ghana and the host country, his then club - United States Major League Soccer's (MLS) Real Salt Lake (RSL) - rejected the invitation.

"It was just something where I was called into the team to go to England, but my club at the time wouldn't let me leave for the game," he recalled before playing against Peru in the United States recently.

That left Johnson, now 25, out in the international football wilderness for a while. But things have taken a positive turn for him with both club and country in recent times. Johnson has long moved on from RSL, the club which drafted him in 2006 but only played him in seven games.

He bounced to MLS's Chicago Fire (three games), and by the following year was in training with teams in Scandinavia. Between March and July, 2007, Johnson hooked up with Swedish club Osters IF. That year he also went on trial with FK Bodo/Glimt. He has also had stints in developmental leagues and even played indoor professional football.

SETTLED DOWN

But Johnson appears to have settled down. He is now married with a daughter and signed with another MLS club, the San Jose Earthquakes, in 2008. There, he's blossoming up front after starting off as a left-sided defender and midfielder at the club.

In 2008 he had five goals and an assist. Last season Johnson was the team's leading scorer with 11 goals and two assists in 30 games. He was named the Earthquake's Most Valuable Player.

That earned Johnson a recall to Jamaica's squad earlier this year against Canada - nearly four years after his first cap. Now he is determined to hold on to his spot this time, especially with the Digicel Caribbean Championships coming up later this year, and World Cup qualifiers, and possibly the CONCACAF Gold Cup looming in 2010.

Yet, despite the heated competition for places up front for Jamaica, with established strikers such as Luton Shelton, Ricardo Fuller, added to upcoming players Omar Cummings, Nicholas Addlery, Devon Hodges and Kavin Bryan, Johnson is feeling right at home among the Boyz. The transition from club to international football is not a point of worry either.

"I mean, it's been great," he said. "The camaraderie has been great."

So far he has earned his keep. Earlier this year he scored Jamaica's only goal in a 2-1 loss to World Cup-bound Argentina. On September 5, he again netted Jamaica's only goal, this time in a win at home against Costa Rica. To stick around, Johnson said he has to focus on the business end. His plan has multiple dimensions.

"I am one of the players that play abroad, so at the same time for some of the young, local-based players I am an example," explained Johnson, one of the few Boyz who excels with his left foot.

"So I try to keep that, and when it comes to my spot I just try to work as hard as I can. I show a different kind of football, a different kind of look when it comes to attacking. So I just try to be physical, use my head a lot and just be a difference-maker when I'm out there. So it's been helping. It's something different for Jamaica, and I think it's a good thing."

LESSON

Johnson has also learned that scoring is not the only way to help his team. Despite his exploits for the Earthquakes - he has 17 goals in almost 80 appearances - the club did not make the play-off last season. This year he has a single goal, but he also has four assists, and the club is right in the thick of the hunt for a place in the MLS post-season.

"Right now, things are going well because last year I had the goals, but at the same time the team didn't have the wins," said Johnson, who was born in Kingston, but moved to the US as an infant, where he attended high school and Oregon State University.

"So that doesn't make very much sense. So this year we kinda got sorted out with the goals and I have some more assists. But I try to be more of a team player and do more defensive work and things like that. And so, instead of winning the game 3-2, you know, we win the game 1-0. So San José is doing a good job of winning the crucial games and we're trying to make a push to the playoff."

It's the talk of a confident man. Johnson feels "content" with the Earthquakes. He was recently joined by fellow Jamaica international Khari Stephenson. So his focus is getting the best for the club.

"I just try to focus on the team that I'm playing for right now," he said, "because for me, if I'm getting sidetracked from different directions it's gonna hurt my performance for the club that I'm working for."

But when the MLS season ends, Johnson's eyes will turn to the Digicel Caribbean Championship. Jamaica are the defending champions. The Reggae Boyz are ready for another big push. His national teammates have welcomed him back after a long time away. He is fitting right in.

"We're learning as a team," said Johnson." The (national) players that we're keeping together are starting to get to know each other well on and off the field. So, it's been a good transition for me."

CAPTION: Jamaica's Ryan Johnson reacts after being brought down in the box but not awarded a penalty, during a friendly football game against Argentina in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on Wednesday, February 10. Johnson scored for Jamaica, who lost the game 2-1.-  AP Photo/Eduardo Di Baia