Kevonte Clarke making upward moves

When National Under-20 captain and senior St Vincent and the Grenadines footballer, Kevonte Clarke took to the field on July 4, 2026 for Inter Toronto versus Vancouver at the Langley Events Centre, Langley, British Columbia, Canada, it marked the beginning of a dream that was realized.

In the process Clarke, who turned 18, played the second half of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) fixture, essentially began a professional footballer.

Growing up in Paul’s Avenue here in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Clarke’s football skills were spotted early and nurtured by his father, Neto Clarke, along with Sanga Fraser as well as Ian Sardine of the System Three.

The younger Clarke and his friends would be seen playing small goal, or juggling in Paul’s Avenue before getting the time to shine at the Bishop’s College hard court as well as the playing field located at the back of the institution.

His father though invested in equipment that assisted him in having personalized training at the Victoria Park and at the St Vincent Grammar School Playing Field.

Years after, it is all paying off for “Ty”, as he is affectionately known.

Getting to this point of his career was always on the cards, as Ty was recognized as a standout by several coaches who visited St Vincent and the Grenadines to conduct sessions.

At age nine, Ty was selected for a camp in England, along with Cameron Williams, where they spent one month at the Chapeltown Football Youth Development Centre Programme in Leeds.

Before spending his early teenage years in Canada, Ty, in 2018, captained the C.W Prescod Primary School to the national primary schools’ title.

Moving to the St Vincent Grammar School, Ty immediately impacted the system and was selected for the Junior team of the institution as a Form One student.

In between, Ty was one of the leading lights in System Three’s Under-13 and Under-15 squads, before taking up residence in Canada.

Continuing his pathway, Ty did not relent with his personal training that saw him having stints with Sigma FC and Toronto FC.

However, it is Inter Toronto that offered the best option for the dazzling midfielder, who possesses several attributes for a player learning the sport on this the tiny island state of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I chose Inter Toronto because they believe in youth and push players toward where they need to be. The pathway to the CPL is clear. I see the pathway as a very good one; If you perform, there’s a clear route to the First Team,” Ty said.

This move comes on the heels of him debuting for St Vincent and the Grenadines’ senior team in March of this year versus Barbados in Bonaire in Concacaf organized international friendlies.

His senior team outing was a move through the age groups, as he previously represented St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Under-17 level and captained the Under-20 unit.

On the threshold of carving a pathway for himself and his family, Ty’s journey is a testament of what hard work, dedication, self-belief, goal setting, parental and community support and rising above circumstances can do.