Right now Kitsap Pumas are the focus for Cameron Hepple

Cameron Hepple will exchange the tropical climate of the Bahamas for a chance at moving up the professional soccer ranks this year in Bremerton with the Kitsap Pumas. (Courtesy photo)

Cameron Hepple grew up in Nassau, the Bahamas. Maybe that helped to make him a person who 'lives in the moment.' Who wouldn't want to be fully present in the warm waters of paradise? Hepple doesn't look ahead too much, but when I talked with him about his soccer career I did get him to look back a little bit. Right here, right now though, Cameron Hepple is concentrating on becoming a Kitsap Puma. It is time for the 5-11 21-year old Tourism/Events planning major to take a professional soccer step...towards Bremerton.

Hepple on the prowl with Bowling Green State. (BGSU athletics photo)

The world does not automatically associate soccer (football) with the Bahamas. Cameron Hepple wonders about this, and suggests to me why Bahamian players often begin and end their careers at home, with no foreign experience in between.  "I think the main challenge Bahamian players face growing up is the amount of competitive games played. The island has such a small population of players who follow/play soccer it affects the quality of play on the island."  Hepple is proud of his association with the Bahamian National Team. He calls wearing his country's kit  "The best feeling," and adds  "it is always an honor to represent your country, there is nothing I can compare it to."

Hepple is one of the few soccer-playing Bahamians who have come stateside, and it ended up being Bowling Green State for his college years. Hepple's senior season was memorable. "Getting a hat trick against the University Of Dayton this past season (was a highlight)," says Hepple. "And so was scoring 10 goals in 12 games...although I was out for a few weeks due to an injury I received in the middle of the season."  Hepple was honored with a selection to the 2009 All-Mid-American Conference Men’s Soccer Second Team.
 

Only time will tell whether or not Hepple will need his sunglasses this summer in Bremerton, but he's not looking ahead, he's focused on making it in Kitsap.  (Courtesy photo)

Hepple suited up last year for the PDL Bradenton Academics (Florida), though he also had a brush with the Pumas via Seattle. "I was interested in playing PDL last summer," he explains, "and the ex Technical Director for the Bahamas that currently works in Seattle gave me the information for the coach. When I initially contacted him, I wasn’t aware that the team (Kitsap) was professional so because of my college eligibility I could not play. Then during the summer they spotted me during the PDL semifinals and showed interest...so it all worked out in the end."

We all can forgive Hepple if living in the 'right now' might have kept Bremerton, Washington off of his radar. Surprisingly, though, Cameron is up to speed on soccer in our area. "I know the Pumas are a good team but were quite unlucky in the quarterfinals last summer. I know they are heading in the right direction and I am excited about that. The northwest in general is the place to be right now if you’re a soccer fan, with the Sounders doing so well in their first season last year and two more teams in the area making a step up (reference to Pumas and perhaps the Tacoma Tide going up to USL-2 in 2011), its a good place to be."

Bahamas U-23 National Team photo: Hepple is #11, second from right, first row. (BNT photo)

Cameron's college coach, Eric Nichols, is eager to follow his progress out west. “Cameron brought another dimension to our attack that will certainly be missed," says Nichols. "His ability to beat multiple players on the dribble and then finish with either foot makes him extremely potent.  Kitsap Pumas have picked up a very good player." The coach passes along some advice to his former pupil: "If Cameron can improve his consistency and durability, he is going to be an extremely exciting player to watch.”

What does the player say about himself?  "I would say I am technical player. I like beating players, and getting a shot or a cross off."  He also suggests one suprising thing about him that some people might not know is that he sports five tattoos. Then Hepple returns to right here, right now. "I want to reach my full potential, and see how far it takes me. I look forward to the future but the future is the future and anything is possible especially in soccer. I am happy where I am right now and this is my focus. When I am finished with my career I want to sit back and say I pushed myself as far as I could go and had fun doing it."