Rowdies’ Adjeman-Pamboe sees confidence rising

Posted Jun 18, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 18, 2010 at 12:30 PM

FC Tampa Bay’s JJ Adjeman-Pamboe isn’t a particularly loud player off the pitch. The soft-spoken winger was even a little camera-shy when the Rowdies’ video crew wanted to talk to him ahead of Saturday’s game against the Puerto Rico Islanders.

The reason they wanted to talk to him, of course, is because his work on the field in recent weeks has been anything but quiet.

“JJ’s done a great job lately,” Rowdies captain Julian Valentin said. “He really adds a spark to the game with his pace and his creativity and his work-rate.”

Adjeman-Pamboe has worked hard to get into the starting line-up after being used principally off the bench earlier in the season. Adjeman-Pamboe said the opportunity to start and develop some chemistry with Long Tan and Pascal Millien has helped his confidence, as has the encouragement he’s received from all of his teammates.

“You can see the way I’m playing in training,” Adjeman-Pamboe said. “Whether I’m starting or coming on they give me positive vibes and certainly when I get on they help me do what I need to do.”

In addition to what he’s brought to the team in the attacking end, Adjeman-Pamboe works just as hard in the defensive half of the field. But with the way he’s been producing scoring opportunities of recently his teammates have noticed a difference in his levels of confidence.

“He brings a lot of attention with his pace and his ability on the ball,” Aaron King said. “I think he’s just growing in confidence, everyone could see it from Day 1 and now he’s really doing well and we’re pushing him harder each week.”

And with that extra confidence, Adjeman-Pamboe is targeting a victory against the Islanders.

“It would be great to get a win against them,” Adjeman-Pamboe said. “They’re also coming off a loss and a tie, so it would be great to shatter their confidence and get them to see if they could go down and give us more confidence to keep going and get on a run again. Winning makes everyone happy.”