The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are looking forward to travelling here to play a “hard-fought match” against the Jamaican “Reggae Boyz” at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium next Thursday. But before they arrive, forward Clinton Dempsey said they have to take care of some important business in England.

Tottenham is in contention of advancing from the Premier League to the Championship League in the English soccer professional league, depending on the outcome of their final match on Sunday against the visiting Sunderland at the White Hart Lane and the showdown between Arsenal and Newcastle.

Dempsey, an avid goal scorer who is also a key member of the United States of America’s team that will be playing in the World Cup later this year, said there is a lot of tension in their clubhouse because they would like nothing better than to secure one of the top four spots in the league standings.

Tottenham has dropped to fifth place on the league table with 69 points, just behind Arsenal, which has 70. Depending on the outcome of their two games, one of the teams will join Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea in the Champions League next year.

“It’s going to go down to the last game where we need to get three points. That’s all everyone is thinking about. Hopefully we can get it done,” Dempsey said in a telecast interview with the local media. “It’s a must win. We have to get three points. That’s all we’re concerned about right now.”

Once the match is over, win, lose or draw, Dempsey said it will not change any prospective for the exhibition match against the Reggae Boyz, especially in the sunshine as they help in the celebrations of the Bahamas’ 40th Independence anniversary.

“It’s different to prepare for the match because we don’t have the warm conditions that you have down there to prepare us, but we are looking forward to it,” Dempsey said.”The humidity may play a factor because some of our players are not used to playing in those conditions.

“But right after the game on Sunday, we will get on a plane and fly down there. We know that Jamaica is a good team. They are in the final round of the qualifying round for the World Cup, so we know that they will be ready to play. Hopefully, we will come prepared to play a hard-fought game against them.”

Dempsey, 30, made the move to West London in December, 2006 from Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution and he went on to make his debut against Tottenham one month later. In August, 2012, Dempsey went on to play for Spurs.

The attacking midfielder’s standout performances for the Cottagers have seen him named their Player of the Season in both the last two seasons and he is also their all-time leading scorer in the Premier League.

In total, Clint made a total of 224 appearances for Fulham, scoring 60 goals and he’s hoping that his hot streak will continue as he delights the local crowd.

“You have to deal with the travel and try to get settled in as quickly as you can and get acclimatised to the conditions. We have to make sure that we can prepare to get the best result down there, but we know it won’t be easy,” Dempsey said. “It’s going to be difficult, but you try your best to score as many goals in every game that you play, but I know it’s not going to be easy.

“But this is also a good opportunity for the fans to get a chance to see some of the top players from our club play and at the same time, it will afford the players on our team the opportunity to get to play against a top ranked CONCACAF team like the Reggae Boyz. So it’s going to be exciting both ways.”

Unlike many of his teammates, Dempsey will also be playing in the World Cup qualifying for the USA. In fact, he is the captain of the team and while he noted that there is no pressure on Tottenham, it will be more for the Jamaicans because they have to get ready for their World Cup qualifier against Mexico on June 4 and then the United States on June 7, both at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

“I’ve played Jamaica many times over the years. The last time when we played them in the United States, we beat them, but when we played them in Jamaica, they won,” he said. “This team has qualified and so you have to try to keep a clean sheet and try to ensure that you play at your best.”

Once the exhibition game is completed, Dempsey will be heading to Cleveland on May 26 to prepare with the USA men’s national for the road towards their World Cup qualifying.

Dempsey and the USA team will host Belgium on May 29 at the First Energy Stadium in Cleveland, followed by the Centennial Celebration Match against Germany on June 2 at the RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. Then they will head to Jamaica to play its third road match in four games at Jamaica on June 7 in Kingston. Four days later, the US returns stateside to host Panama on June 11 at Century Link Field in Seattle.

Having grown up in Texas where he played soccer at a young age, Dempsey said he remembers watching the players in the World Cup and the passion that they brought to the big screen.

After he got the chance to play for the United States in his first World Cup in 2006, he said he’s gotten a better appreciation of the game and that has been a key factor for him to perform the way he has ever since.