TUCKER, St James — Very few players have been able to break into the Montego Bay United rotation over the past four seasons or so as the core of young, talented players have blended into a solid core.

Defender Kemar Drake has proven to be the exception, however, and has played his way into the team, starting all 14 games so far this year in the RSPL and the ScotiaBank CONCACAF Champions League.

The versatile 24-year-old was one of several new players who turned up at WesPow Park in June seeking to catch the eyes of the Montego Bay United coaches, but is the only one that has managed to fit into coach Timothy Hankinson’s system.

The former Bustamante High and Sporting Central player told the Jamaica Observer last week he has settled well and enjoying his stint with the RSPL leaders.

“This group of players I am around reminds me of the ones at Sporting, so it was easy to fit in,” said Drake. “We gelled early and so far it has been good.”

Drake started in the middle of the defence where he partnered Cordel Simpson, freeing up Ladale Richie to take over the holding midfield role. Drake has also played at left back in their last two games against Arnett Gardens in a pulsating 2-2 draw last Monday night and on Thursday against Waterhouse in a 3-1 victory.

He was named Man of the Match in the Waterhouse game by coach Hankinson who told reporters afterwards that “Drake brings a nice blend of tough football and instincts”. “I would not like to be coming down the right wing against him,” Hankinson added.

Asked about the switch, Drake said: “Once you are a footballer you must be able to play more than one position to help your team.”

It has not been as seamless, he claims, to make and maintain his place in what is a close-knit Montego Bay United team. “It is not easy… this is a tough league, but when we work as a team we make it easy.”

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MBU’s Kemar Drake (right) takes on Arnett Gardens’ Leon Strickland in a RSPL game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Monday. (PHOTOS: PAUL REID)

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Kemar Drake of MBU (right) dribbles out of his defensive area against Waterhouse in a RSPL game at WesPow Park on Thursday.