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ANDRE BLAKE

Andre Blake: From Humble Beginnings to Soccer Stardom

Born on November 21, 1990, in Clarendon, Jamaica, Andre Blake is a professional soccer player who has made a name for himself in the Major League Soccer (MLS) scene. Growing up, Blake was always passionate about soccer and spent most of his childhood playing the sport on the streets with his friends. His talent was soon recognized by local clubs, and he began playing for Jamaica's youth teams before eventually being drafted by the MLS team, the Philadelphia Union, in 2014. Since then, Blake has become one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the league, earning numerous accolades, including three All-Star selections, the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2016, and the Gold Cup Best Goalkeeper award in 2017. However, Blake's journey to success has not been without its share of challenges, including a difficult childhood with adverse challenges and a serious hand injury in 2012 that nearly ended his soccer career. Through it all, Andre Blake's unwavering determination and hard work have brought him to where he is today.

We sat down with Andre to hear more about how he’s brought positive change back to Jamaica through his restaurant, Blake’s Kickout Sports Bar and Lounge, which he opened in his hometown of May Pen.

So where did the idea of opening Blake's Kick Out come from?

“It's always been a dream of mine. It's honestly been a childhood dream. Something that I've always wanted to do. Ever since I was younger, I wanted to own something like it. As I grew, the dream just stuck with me. Yeah, it just never went away. when I finally saw the opportunity to really make it a reality I was just like Yes, I like this. ”

was there something or someone that inspired you to pursue the restaurant, such as being able to give back to your hometown or community?

“Yeah, that was one of the big driving forces behind it. Again, it's a passion. It's like playing football, something that I've always wanted to do. And it wasn't for the money; it was just something that wouldn't leave me alone. It's also good because being able to do that in my hometown, you know, it means a lot to me. I can employ people, which is very fulfilling for me. So, it's good. You know, obviously, it's a challenge. It's a business. But for the most part, it's really good. And I'm happy. I have no regrets.”

what do you think is the

most unique item on the menu?

“I would say the burger, and yeah, because we actually buy the mixed beef and we season it our way and make patties ourselves. So, I would say the burger is the most unique item.”

Who's the best cook

you personally know?

“Oh, my wife. Yeah. And my mom. ”

“To be honest, my mom is a little bit better than my wife, but, yeah, she is good, too. You can't beat a good home-cooked meal by your mom.”

What's one thing you wish others

knew about your hometown?

Well, as they would say in America, I'm from "the hood", so I'm from a very volatile community. But what I would say is, you know, people should understand that it's not where you're are from. You know, you can come from anywhere and still be. You know, I grew up around guns and bad influences. You know, I could have gone the other way, but I knew what I wanted. And yeah, I'm just proof that, you know, you can really come from anywhere and still be who you want to be and be successful. That's what I want.

"you can really come from anywhere and still be who you want to be"

If your soccer career ended tomorrow, would you go all in on the restaurant business, or is there something else that you would want to dive into and take a shot at?

“Boy, I would have a lot more time on my hand to really invest in the restaurant,

and it's something that I want to do long-term. I would have ventured to open more stores in different locations. So that's definitely something that I would be doing. But I don't want to just have all my eggs in one basket.

You know, maybe real estate and a little bit of coaching.”

What is something people would never know about you?

Maybe a hobby or a talent of yours.

“Playing the drums! Oh, yeah. I think I have a talent for playing the drums.

I haven't invested enough in it, and I feel like I've lost that a little bit, but I have a natural ability to play. But yeah, I mean, being a soccer player, I didn't really have much time. I don't think you could be a soccer player and a musician at the same time. Know. But I'm sure there are some players on the team who play. Yeah. It's something that I love, playing drums. I love music, sorry. So it's something that I enjoy doing, but not a lot of people know about it, and I'm probably not as good as I could be. And that's because I don't practice it.”

What do you think it is that makes

photography so timeless as an art form?

“I don't know anything about photography personally, but what I would say is, you know, you have to be very patient, first of all. It's art. When you're able to capture these moments, obviously, you have to know what you're looking for. And when you're able to capture these wild people in historic moments with all that emotion, it's awesome. I don't know the work behind it, but it's a beautiful thing. And yeah, I mean, that's the thing that I love about it too: that you're freezing a moment in time forever. Wrapping it all up into an image”

What do you think the future holds for you?

“I don't know what the future holds,

but I know who holds the future.

I just keep working. Keep controlling what I can control. Focus on that. You never know where life is going to take you next. You know, life is full of surprises. But that's the interesting thing about it. You just have to be ready, able to adjust and live in the moment to live life right. “

WhaT IS YOUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF SOCCER IN THE united states?

“The league has grown so fast, you know? We could see MLS sneak up and quickly become a top league, and I'm so happy to be a part of it. I have watched it grow, and I think it's just going to get better, and that's good. One day I can tell my kids that MLS is now one of the top five leagues in the world and that their father was a part of that growth. I helped to build it. So, yeah, it's a really good feeling. The future is bright.”