COVID-19 puts ‘Taxi’ on hold
The suspension of the Belgian Jupiler League due to the coronavirus pandemic came at an unfortunate time for Jamaican international Kemar Lawrence, the newest signing for club R.S.C. Anderlecht.
The 27-year-old defender, who joined the 34-time champions from Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit New York Red Bulls in January, was looking to break into the team having attained full fitness but has since been in self-isolation in keeping to an individual training regiment, while following the guidelines that the Belgian authorities have set to combat the virus which has been spreading rapidly throughout Europe.
“I got fit and as soon as I got fit everything took a turn,” Lawrence told STAR Sports. “[But]I have my personal plan that I do every day. I go out and I get it done. But the numbers here are high because we are in between France and Italy but at the same time people know what they need to do. “I feel like everybody is following those guidelines and are getting done what they need to get done.”
CLUB DEBUT DELAY
Now his club debut may have to wait until next season as Belgian league officials met yesterday and decided to end the 201920 season, cancelling the playoffs and awarding Club Brugge the title. Brugge (70 points) had a 15-point lead in the standings with one game to go in the regular season. Gent are in second on 55 points. Anderlecht have 43 points and are in eighth spot. The decision is still pending approval at a league general assembly meeting scheduled for April 15.
But in the months that he has been training with the team, he said that he felt more comfortable in his new surroundings and was pleased with way that he had adapted to the team’s system
“So far, everything has been good. The coaches for trying to teach me the style of play and they have made it very simple for me and I have been catching on fast. Each day, I try to catch on as fast as possible,” he said. “My teammates have been good to me and everybody have welcomed me,” he continued.
Although currently in the midst of uncertainty as to when the current health crisis will improve, he says that his mindset is geared towards a more positive outlook believing that it presents an opportunity to get closer to his family.