Caymanian Maleek Powell has taken his football career to the next level, after signing with Empire FC – a semi-professional team based in Antigua.
Powell, 21, who played as an amateur for over five years with Sunset FC in the Cayman Islands Football Association Premier League, made his debut in the Antigua and Barbuda Premier League on 18 Feb., in a game that end 2-all against SAP FC.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this before,” Powell told the Compass. “The whole country, it’s just different, with the fans coming up to you, especially [when comparing to] playing in Cayman, fans don’t really speak to players and say things like, ‘We are depending on you,’ so it puts good pressure on you as a player.”
Powell’s signing came as a result of Cayman senior national captain and fellow fullback Joshewa Frederick-Charlery using his network of contacts to enable Powell to get in touch with Empire FC.
“I was speaking to the national team captain Joshewa and I expressed my interest in going overseas and playing to further my career in football and he said he knows someone… got in contact with the coach and he said he would be happy to have me here for the remainder of the season,” Powell said, noting that from there it was a matter of preparing properly and getting sponsors to assist with his trip and accommodations.
Powell’s deal with Empire FC makes him the first person from the Cayman Islands to sign with a professional team in Antigua, but this isn’t the first time that he has made history within the world of sports for his country.
In 2021, when Powell was 18, he became the first person to qualify for the CARIFTA Games in the pole vault event after clearing 3 metres, but those games were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, however, Powell has one goal in mind.
“I’m here to work and get results,” he said, noting that he has until April when the season ends to pull his weight.
Empire FC currently sits at the bottom of its league table and is looking to avoid relegation. Powell has been brought in with four matches left in the Antigua and Barbuda Premier League season to assist the team in staying in the premiership.
He said his hope is to gain enough experience for a chance to play for Cayman in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June, which could be interesting, considering Cayman’s first game will be against Antigua and Barbuda.
“In terms of the World Cup qualifiers, I have been trying to make… the national team,” he said, hoping his experience will enable him to help that squad.
He added his time with Empire FC will give him the opportunity to establish relationships which he will then use to build bridges for Caymanian players who want to play in Antigua.
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