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BEHIND THE STRIPES

Romario Williams

By Atlanta United FC

June 6^th, 2018

“The brave may fall, but never yield.”

Those are the words still ringing in the ears of Romario Williams, a motto that he’s carried with him from his high school days back in Jamaica. While the 23-year-old currently plays at the highest level and has the honor of representing his nation on the field, few have faced adversity and conquered the struggle of the professional soccer journey quite like Williams has.

“Whenever you’re doubted, whenever you feel like you’re doubted, don’t give up, just keep going. That’s how I approach each and every day.”

His story begins in Portmore, Jamaica, where the sport took his heart as well as his feet not too long after graduating from a crawl.

“Soccer was introduced to me at a really, really young age, as long as I can remember, maybe at the age of three. Growing up in a soccer-oriented family in Jamaica where my dad, my uncles and my two older brothers, all played professionally in Jamaica, unfortunately, none of them were able to make the transition to the next level, with that being the national team or playing overseas. So I think growing up, that was a challenge to myself.”

Playing for his country at the youth international level, Williams gained exposure from a number of college coaches in the U.S., including that of the University of Central Florida, where he accepted a scholarship and left his home to pursue his soccer career.

“It was a no-brainer for me and my family. We decided that this is the route we want to take, this is the avenue to getting one step closer to the next level. At that time, a lot of Jamaicans were being drafted out of college into MLS.”

And what he sought after, he earned.

After spending three stellar years with the UCF Knights, Williams was drafted to the Montreal Impact in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He realized his childhood dream, the dream the rest of his family couldn’t quite reach: playing professionally overseas.

But signing for a team and playing for a team do not come hand in hand, and Williams quickly learned that as his first year in Montreal resulted in just two appearances followed by a season-long loan at the Charleston Battery in 2016. Atlanta then picked him up heading into their MLS expansion season, but soon after signing him, loaned him back out to the Battery. And despite the struggle of getting minutes in the top tier, the Jamaican refused to yield. And in 2017 he proved to the World what he could do.

“In my young career thus far, that’s definitely the best year of my career both on the club level and on the international level. Being able to help the national team get to the Gold Cup final… scoring 15 goals in the USL and walking away with a couple of individual awards… I think that’s what has gotten me the opportunity to be here with Atlanta in 2018.”

And since his monster season in 2017 and returning to Atlanta United from his loan, he’s been a key piece in a team that’s now leading the league table. Making eight appearances in just 14 games, Williams has earned more top-tier minutes in the first few months of 2018 than he ever did with Montreal. And he’s seizing every opportunity, including scoring his first MLS goal on April 7th in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“I can’t necessarily put it in one word, there were just a bunch of emotions that were going through my mind at that time. You could just tell by the celebration, the way I celebrated that goal. For me I just feel like it’s been a long time coming. To get the opportunity with Atlanta and to go out there, have the coaching staff put the confidence in you and trust you to go out there and get the job done, I think that speaks volumes.”

“It was definitely a special moment for me, getting the first one in MLS. Being in the league, this is my fourth year, being sent on loan the last two seasons, not being able to play much in the league, not getting a lot of minutes, a lot of appearances, so to get that first one, it definitely was a great feeling and it’s one that I will remember forever.”

The young Jamaican international is cherishing every moment in the ATL thus far. But even more significant than his time on the field, he stands in awe, match after match, at the city’s backing for the club. The undying passion for which the fans have embraced the Five Stripes and the pure magnitude of supporters in just two seasons is something so special, it matches that of the World’s most renowned clubs.

“A lot of people don’t get to experience that, whether that be in MLS, or overseas in Europe. You can just tell by the attendance from our fans that we get week in week out, we’re right up there with the best in Europe. And if you’re not playing for one of the top five or top ten teams in Europe, then you’re not getting the crowd that Atlanta is getting here in MLS. It’s truly remarkable what these fans are able to do week in and week out. The way they support us, the way they rally behind us. It’s definitely the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of.”

“That first game against DC I believe there were 72,000 people inside the stadium. And because the stadium is indoors, it’s definitely the loudest and rowdiest atmosphere I’ve been a part of.”

“These fans they bring it each and every week, it doesn’t matter how often you go out there. You can never get used to it because the moment and the feeling it’s just like ‘WOW’ every time you step out there. They did it last year and they’re doing it this year again, I mean attendance record after attendance record, they just keep raising the bar and hopefully it remains that way.”

And what really impresses Williams about the Atlanta faithful is the fact that the fandom extends well beyond the pitch.

“It’s everywhere and it’s great to see, to know that the city of Atlanta rallies around the team and they actually buy in to what we want to do. And just as much as they’re thirsting for success we want to bring them that success just the same. Hopefully we can bring them a championship.”

Not only does he feel the desire to achieve for the fans on a team level, he feels it on a personal level, as the city has been so welcoming to him and his family too.

“Even with my son that was just born the other day, the hospitality at the hospital was unbelievable. It just speaks volumes about the people of Atlanta and the kind of city that it is. And it’s very welcoming. We truly love it here, and hopefully we’re able to call this place home for a very long time or even after my career is over.”

As his time in Atlanta grows, as does his love for the city, its people and its culture. Butwhile he could envision himself here down the road, he’s remaining focused on what’s in front of him.

“I try to live in the moment. I try to take it a day at a time, a year at a time. I try not to overthink it or think too far ahead. In this game, and in sport in general, things can change just like that. You never know what’s going to come. So, I just try to live in the moment, stay humble, live each day as it is and just take it in strides.”

Williams knows his journey is not finished. His dreams are not done. As he said, anything can happen in the sport, more challenges and more struggles will come, and you can never predict the future. But for Romario, one thing is for certain:

He will never yield.

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