New York Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards (centre) attempts to split the defence of Houston Dynamo midfielders Brad Davis (left) and Dwayne De Rosario (right) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday night, April 21, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Gordon Williams, Contributor

It took Dane Richards a bit longer than most Jamaicans to start playing football, but his quick feet have put him on the fast track toward a promising professional career.

Montego Bay-born Richards only stepped into the organised game at the under-14 level while at Cornwall College. But his lethal speed quickly pushed him into the school's daCosta Cup team, then contention for places on national youth teams, before grabbing a few appearances for the senior Reggae Boyz.

Now, after a prolific college career in the United States, the 23-year-old has landed a starting role as a rookie for the emerging New York Red Bulls of U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS).

The transition for Richards, from rank amateur to starter on a team in America's biggest sports market once ruled by the New York Cosmos and greats like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer, has been swift.

Yet the former Seba player is far from shocked into submission, taking the step-up in stride as easily as collecting a pass from teammate Claudio Reyna, the former U.S. midfield general who skipped out of the English Premier League to join his former national coach in New York.

IMPRESS

Still, Richards fully understands that football has become his job and if he does not continue to impress, his club coach Bruce Arena, who guided the U.S. to the World Cup, will find someone else who can.

"It started at college (Clemson University)," said Richards while explaining the adjustment to life as a pro prior to boarding a plane to Texas for a MLS game on Thursday, April 26, against F.C. Dallas.

"They treated you as a professional. The transition (to the Red Bulls) was the same. (But) in the pros you are playing with better players, like Reyna and (U.S. national player) Clint Mathis. You have to perform every day to keep your spot."

Initially, Richards planned to spend his first MLS season gradually adjusting to his new environment. The Red Bulls organisation and teammates, he said, have made him comfortable. But after a regular player was injured he broke into the starting team. Now he plans to make the role of a wide attacker his own - permanently.

"I got the opportunity and I took it," he said. "I'm playing really well right now, so I plan to keep playing confidently and maintain the starting job."

The Red Bulls are willing to give Richards - once considered by some as a long shot to contribute to the club consistently this season - a fair shot.

ADMIRED

New York Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards (19), of Jamaica, collides with FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja, of Colombia, in the first half of an MLS soccer match, Thursday, April 26 in Frisco, Texas. - AP photo

While Arena had never met Richards before, even at Jamaica's friendly international against the U.S. in April 2006 in Cary, North Carolina, the nifty forward had admired the coach for years.

Richards snatched his interest during the U.S. "combines", an audition camp for potential MLS players held in Florida earlier this year. Now Richards is looking forward to the challenge of being a permanent part of Arena's plans for the Red Bulls.

"From I was a youth in Jamaica Bruce Arena has always been a big coach," he said. "Playing for Arena is really exciting."

Arena appears excited about Richards as well. The club would like him to improve his crossing of the ball, but his speed has them drooling with anticipation. His cross after a torrid run down the right flank while under pressure accounted for the Red Bulls' second goal, scored by teenager Josme in an impressive 3-0 home win over F.C. Dallas on April 15.

He netted his first MLS goal on Saturday as his side New York Red Bulls battled to a 3-3 draw with Real Salt Lake (RSL), for whom former Reggae Boy captain Andy Williams and Jamaica-born Jeff Cunningham plays. Williams didn't play Saturday but Cunningham scored an 89th minute equaliser in the six-goal thriller.

LITTLE DIFFERENCE

More important Richards acknowledged that the MLS is technically better than Jamaica's National Premier League, the rookie knows there is little difference in his own role.

"It's basically the same," said the son of Diana Beckford and Delroy Richards. "I have the speed. They're asking me to get behind the defence, supplying crosses and finishing when I can."

Richards wouldn't mind catching the eye of Jamaica's new technical director Bora Milutinovic as well.

"Any chance I get to represent my country I'll take it," he said. "I'm just waiting for my chance - Years past they've gone for the best players. I hope this experience (with the Red Bulls) will help me get in."

Based on his knack for quick transitions and Milutinovic's known preference for speedy players, Richards may just get that opportunity sooner than later.