Teen star Lambe all set for national team debut
By Stephen Wright
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Budding star: Sixteen-year-old Reggie Lambe, who is making a name for himself at Ipswich Town and who is set to make his national team debut this weekend.
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Photo Chris Burville
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Teenage star Reggie Lambe is set to sparkle on the international stage with the English club player in line to make his bow when Bermuda take on St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Ipswich Town academy starlet joined up with the senior squad this week and will be named in Keith Tucker's 20-man squad for the upcoming friendly matches against the Leeward Islanders on Friday evening (8 p.m.) and Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.) at the National Sports Centre.
Bermuda's hottest footballing property has won rave reviews since signing for the Tractor Boys last summer with his mature displays being rewarded with reserve team call-ups.
Still only 16, Lambe will now cap off his year to remember by adding 'international footballer' to the list of achievements gathering on his CV — as he vows to show Bermuda how much his game has developed.
"I'm very excited as this is my first call-up to the senior national team," said the former Hornet who is back on the Island for three weeks. "It gives me a chance to come and play for my country and show Bermuda what I can do.
"I want to help push Bermuda forward and hopefully inspire more youngsters to get out and do what I'm doing in the UK, or elsewhere."
The midfielder, previously 'schooled' at the Academy of former national team coach Kenny Thompson, is no stranger to his new team-mates.
He used to watch most of them from the local league sidelines as a starry-eyed youngster.
Fellow son of the soil and New England Revolution winger Khano Smith was his role model, whom he hails as the player who allowed him believe he could make the grade as a professional away from the Island.
"I'm familiar with a lot of the boys and I used to train with some of them when I played for Dandy Town. But I know most of them from watching them play when I was young and they used to be my role models," Lambe said.
"The guy I really look up to is Khano Smith as he used to teach me at school. When he went away to play for New England Revolution in the MLS it gave me more of a push to get off the Island and play professional football."
But it is the footsteps of the likes of Clyde Best, Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne which Lambe aims to retread in his quest to become the next Bermudian to make it big in the UK.
"At first it was tough at Ipswich because I really missed my family but I'm used to it now and I'm settled," he said. "Things have gone well for me since I joined the academy and although most of my games have been at that level, I've been called up for the reserves because I've been playing well.
"I've been at Ipswich since June and I feel my awareness, movement and touch has really improved. I have more confidence on the ball in terms of calling for it, getting into good positions, getting my head up and finishing.
"I guess I would describe myself as a winger but I can play anywhere in midfield. I'm comfortable on either wing and I like to cut in, but I'm also happy going through the middle.
"The coach thinks I'm doing good, and I think I'm doing good as well."
Although Lambe has only been involved in a few national team sessions he has already earned praise from Bermuda Hogges franchise player and former English club trialist Damon Ming.
"I already knew a little about Reggie as he used to play for Dandy Town when he was younger, but I have to say he's looking really sharp," said Ming who had a stint at League Two outfit Barnet. "I've been very impressed from what I've seen of him in a short space of time and only good things can happen for him in football."
