Damion Lowe optimistic despite Inter Miami woes, Brightline adds game day trains
Inter Miami defender Damion Lowe has been around professional soccer long enough to know that losing streaks and rough patches are part of the game. His father, Onandi Lowe, was a Jamaican national team star and had a successful career, and now Damion is captain of the Reggae Boyz.
The younger Lowe’s career has taken him from Seattle to Tampa Bay to Phoenix to Egypt and, most recently, to Miami. Although Inter Miami remains winless through the first five games of the season with one tie and four losses, Lowe remains optimistic heading into Saturday’s 3 p.m. home game against the New England Revolution.
“Of course, we’re going to be disappointed after the results, but as a professional, we’ve been doing this for years and we just have to go back to the drawing board, work hard, keep morale high, motivate each other and get back to it,” Lowe said. “We can’t stay down because if we stay down, it’s just going to get worse.”
Lowe said coach Phil Neville and his staff have been doing a good job of keeping spirits high.
“Phil’s message has been `Don’t make excuses’, shut out all the negativity, and believe in ourselves,” Lowe said. “At the end of the day if you watch all the games over, we’ve been progressing, getting better, adding more shots on goal. The puzzle is almost complete. We’re so close but so far, only a matter of time before we get a positive result, and I think it’s very close.”
Lowe said he was encouraged by the team’s 22 shots in a 3-1 loss to Houston last Saturday. Although only five were on target and 16 were taken from outside the box, he saw progress.
“If you watch the whole game and take away the score line, we were the better team,” he said. “We had 22 shots. Not much on target, but we’re creating opportunities and we need to build on that. Every game we’ve gotten better. We’re now comfortable on the ball, playing out of the back. From defense to offense we make five passes and are in the opponent’s box, so we’re just building. It’s a new team, takes time to understand each other and understand the system.”
Neville used a 4-3-3 formation against Houston, and Lowe felt it suited the team.
“I love the 4-3-3, it fits our playing style, fast wingers, Gonzalo [Higuain] jumping off as a false nine, spreading the ball wide and then hitting the box,” Lowe said. “We’re good on counterattacks, we have DeAndre and Ari [Lassiter] on the wings. We created so many chances with this formation.”
Lowe heard the fans boo at the end of the loss to Houston and urges them to stick with the team.
“We’re going to fight until the fat lady sings, and I want the fans to keep coming, being our 12th man, cheering us on and pushing us because we all believe a win is close and we only need one to get going.”
Brightline trains to the games
Brightline is now offering dedicated game day trains along with free shuttles for Inter Miami fans. The Fort Lauderdale station is minutes away from the DRV PNK Stadium and starting on Saturday, fans traveling from Miami and West Palm Beach can enjoy a ride directly to the stadium by booking the “GOOOL Getter” trains on Brightline’s app or website.
“Brightline offers a better, smarter way to get around for fans of Inter Miami. Cut through the traffic to see your favorite team play!” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Inter Miami CF has a loyal soccer fan base throughout South Florida that can now travel seamlessly to the games with Brightline. With these dedicated pregame trains and connecting shuttles, we’re bringing the Brightline experience, energy and excitement that Inter Miami fans are going to love.”