CABLE BEACH, The Bahamas — Rodolph Austin may not be there yet, but his story surely qualifies as a rags-to-riches tale.

Twenty-seven years ago, when Clifton and Merditha Austin saw the birth of their last child on June 1, 1985, little did they know that their last child of 13 was destined for great things.

Rodolph Austin however is still on that journey in the game of football — a sport that has changed his life.

He has come a long way from the poor country boy who grew up in Morgan’s Pass in north Clarendon to a highly respected professional footballer. So far, he has made his mark in Norway, and is on his way to doing so in England.

His story is the stuff dreams are made of.

But Austin, also an accomplished Jamaican international, has not lost his rustic humility and appreciation for the simple things in life.

Performing for large crowds at his former club — SK Brann of the Norwegian Premier League where he was hailed as a demi-god of sorts — and today, at Leeds of the English Championship where he is a hero without par, Austin is still the same young chap from Morgan’s Pass.

So lofty is his respect at Leeds, the club has made a song that features the tough-tackling, no-nonsense midfielder.

And what makes the story of the Elland Road darling more inspiring, is that there is an indication that he’s destined to go higher…and higher.

On reflection of his upbringing in rural Clarendon, Austin, popularly called ‘Rudi’, said the man he is today had everything to do with his close-knit family and life in Morgan’s Pass.

“I grew up with my mom and dad and I told my dad that I am going to try my best to give them a better life and make him proud as he has always encouraged me.

“Plus it’s just the drive for success knowing where I am coming from and I always try to do my best to set a better life for myself and my family, so those are the things that drive me,” Austin told the Jamaica Observer here, where he was scheduled to be a part of an abandoned camp ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

It would appear that football was always in the stars for Austin, as he shared that when he left high school, he was clueless as to what career path he would pursue.

“If I should be honest, when I was leaving high school I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. Although I left with six subjects… I wasn’t a school person as school was hard in terms of finding lunch and stuff like that. Then I started playing football and made the National Under-20 team, and then I realised that I could make a professional life out of it,” said the former Portmore United standout.

Austin was quick to point out that his successes, so far, didn’t just come from his ability to play the game, but more from what lies deep within him.

“Remember, football is not all about talent, it’s the drive and work ethic… that’s important, and that’s what I did and today I have no regrets.”

Though he has begun the process of building a solid future for himself, his parents and siblings, he admits it’s been a process.

“I have a lot of brothers and sisters and they understand the situation as I try to do things step by step, as I cannot help everybody at the same time. We talk a lot about these things, and I am happy they understand,” said Austin, who is now married to Carolyn, a school sweetheart.

With a football career that is blooming, a beautiful wife by his side, the ability to financially put his house in order, Rodolph Austin is on cloud nine. And who wouldn’t be?

“It’s very good, as I always had dreams of finding a beautiful wife, and we have been going on for like seven to eight years… we know each other from school days, and right now I am very happy and comfortable and I am appreciating every day of it,” he beamed during a chat at the Sheraton Beach Resort and Casino here yesterday.

Turning to the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, where Jamaica have three rapid games against Mexico (June 4), USA (June 7) and Honduras (June 11), Rudi is of the view that Jamaica have no choice but to start winning.

“First and foremost, we have to get the team in shape and get these points; as we know the situation we have found ourselves in, so we have to go out there and take these three games very seriously… they are going to be very important to get the points that we need… we have not won any games in the campaign so far, so we need to get that first win and then build on it,” he posited.

But as daunting as it seems, with the Reggae Boyz at the bottom of the six-team qualifying playoffs, Austin remains upbeat that he and his fellow teammates possess the quality to prevail.

“I think we have the squad to do it and I still believe that we can do it,” he said.

Austin said it’s the dream of every footballer to play in the World Cup, and he aims to be numbered among those who have done so.

“It would definitely be a disappointment, not only for me but for everyone, not to reach Brazil, so for me it’s very important as everyone would like to play at the highest level, and the highest level is the World Cup,” said the 6ft midfielder who is comfortable in any area of the middle of the park.

So far, Austin’s crowning moment in these CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers must certainly be the opening goal he scored on September 7 last year that helped give Jamaica their elusive win over the USA at this level. The game ended 2-1 inside the National Stadium.

Though he is a solid and reliable campaigner, of the last three games in the Hexagonal of the play-offs, Austin was not ashamed to admit that he let himself and his country down with his below par performance against Costa Rica away in March, where Jamaica lost 0-2.

“I try to be honest with myself at all times, and the last game against Costa Rica wasn’t one of my best games, as I made some bad passes, but it’s football and that will happen. I have to just go out there and try my best next time,” said the soft-spoken player who is also known as the ‘Beast’.

But the path to where he is these days, strutting his stuff on the football’s professional frontier, was never an easy road, as Austin fought off career-threatening injuries and numerous disappointments associated with attempted moves to England in the past where he failed one work permit application after another.

Finally, he got his break in 2012, making a move from Norway to England.

So far, Austin believes that everything happened for a purpose and he’s at the right place at the right time.

“To be honest, I am happy and that move (to Brann) was a godsend because it gave me four years to develop and I left from there and went to England, which I thought was the right transition, and I have no regrets going to Brann, as I did very well there and was very successful and I will always have them in my heart,” he told the Sunday Observer.

While at SK Brann, the Austin won Player of the Season award of the Tippeligaen in 2011, Best Player as voted by journalists, Best Player award for his club, and has also been inducted in the club’s Hall of Fame. For that successful season, he scored seven goals in 25 games.

It would be safe to say that Austin is in football heaven, as life at his new club Leeds is one that he’s enjoying to the fullest: “It’s very overwhelming, the fans at Leeds, they make me feel very good, but at the same time I have to continue doing the things I have to do on the pitch… it’s always good playing in front of them as they make you feel you are wanted, and make you feel good to be a Jamaican.”