Darren Donaie has been called up to the National Mens Football Team. While this young aspiring professional goalkeeper is experiencing his first senior call up, he is not new to the national scene. He has featured at the Under 15 and Under 20 levels for SLU.
Darren who is only 19, hails originally from Babonneau but his football life is embedded in Gros Islet after having moved to that community at an early age. When he began his football journey he relished a career as a striker however the role of goalkeeper fell into his lap by accident and the rest is history.
Darren, who was also captain of the St. Mary’s College Team, made his National Under 15 team debut at 12, seemingly always punching above his weight class. Likewise, he featured at the Windward Islands Under 20 School Games when he was barely 15 and represented Gros Islet at the Under 17 level to Grenada. At 17 he played in the First Division locally propelling him straight into the National Under 20 Team which represented St. Lucia in the Dominican Republic.
Darren Donaie dreams of making it on the professional scene internationally and moves have been afoot in this direction. The very vocal shot stopper has already enjoyed a 3-month stint at the Arnstadt Soccer Academy in Germany and is in talks to secure trials in Europe. Darren plays for Northern United and credits his coaches and the footballing environment in Gros Islet for his introduction and development in the sport. He believes local young footballers need to get the requisite exposure if we are to see SLU players flourish and waving the National flag on the international stage. Darren was part of the Gros Islet team which made it to the semi finals of the Blackheart Tournament.