Justin Donawa’s desire to play professional football burns just as brightly as it did when he first set his sights on playing at the top level during his childhood.

“That’s always been the end goal for me,” Donawa, the Somerset Trojans winger, said. “Ever since I was little I have always dreamed of playing professionally.

“Everybody grows up watching big Premier League matches and aspires to play in them — that’s always been my goal. I think being a professional is an honour no matter where you are, and right now I am just trying to get there.”

Donawa underlined his potential by notching his first goal in a major cup final during Trojans’ 2-1 win in the Friendship Trophy final over perennial rivals PHC Zebras at Somerset Cricket Club on New Year’s Day.

“I really enjoyed the experience and it was definitely a pleasure,” he said. “It was definitely a pleasure playing in front of the home crowd and playing in a rivalry with PHC that hadn’t happened since the early Nineties. I was definitely excited and pumped to play in such a fixture.

“We came out firing and put PHC under pressure right away and ended up getting two goals in the first half. We just played our tails off and got the result we needed.”

Leo Burgess netted Trojans’ other goal from the penalty spot while Zebras replied through Rakeem DeShields’s second-half header.

Donawa is a freshman at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he has enjoyed plenty of success on the pitch.

“We won the Ivy League for the second year in a row and made the second round of the NCAA tournament where we got knocked out after losing to Syracuse,” said Donawa, who scored in a 2-1 defeat to Syracuse.

“I am glad I have the opportunity I have right now and being able to attend such a prestigious institution.

“I am definitely trying to get my education as well because I know that it’s important after football, which can only take me so far.”

The son of top distance runner Jay Donawa scored two goals for his college and had two assists during a season cut short by injury.

“I was out for the first half of the season unfortunately due to a sprained ankle I picked up in pre-season, which was kind of a bummer,” Donawa said. “Other than that, the season was great and right now we are just kicking into off-season training and lifting and playing a little bit to keep fit.”

The multi-talented athlete, who won a gold medal in the triple jump at the 2012 Carifta Games which Bermuda hosted, has not ruled out competing for his college in athletics.

“Right now I am debating if I am actually going to join the track team. I might because they know I jump and they have heard a lot about what I have accomplished,” Donawa said.

“They have asked my football coaches about me and luckily enough my football coaches are very flexible and very easy to work with.

“They told me it’s my decision and I am just trying to see how school goes to see if it will be a little bit too much. I think I might take a look at it and see where it goes and hopefully do well.”

As well as football and athletics, Donawa is also a fast bowler for Somerset’s Cricket Club.

“I just love playing cricket which is something to keep me fit during the summer and have been a reserve for Somerset in Cup Match for the past three years,” he said.

“I have never really thought about taking my cricket to the next level.

“I am just playing because I have fun, which is why I think I love it.”