KF Fjallabyggðar's goalkeeper, Javon Sample, was interviewed shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 season. Javon first came to Iceland in 2019 when his friend in Iceland told him about the possibility of coming to the country. Javon came here without a job or a team to play for, and without an agent. It still worked out, and he got a contract with Einherja in Vopnafjörður and a job at the municipal office in Vopnafjörður. He is from Trinidad and Tobago, and has played for the country's junior national team. Trinidad is an island just off the coast of Venezuela, so he knows island life well. Javon played two seasons with Einherji before going on a short contract to Dalvík/Reynis in 2020. Javon then signed with KF in 2021 and has now played 113 games in this country.
Javon came here as a single man but was lucky enough to meet his wife in Iceland and they now have children, and live in Ólafsfjörður. Javon now works for Primex in Siglufjörður.
Javon answered some questions below. We thank Javon very much for the chat and wish him all the best in football and his personal life in the future.
Hi my full name is Javon Jerrod Sample from Port-of Spain Trinidad. I have been a professional goalkeeper for 12 years now and I think it’s my life really, its what I always wanted to do!! Things have changed a little since I moved to Iceland but I always loved playing in the goal and giving my all whenever I’m needed. i represented my national team at U20 and U23 level and still have the ambition of representing at senior level one day.
How did it come about when you first came playing in Iceland in 2019 to play for Einherji in Vopnafjörður? Did you have an agent and did you know anything about Iceland at that time?
I didn’t have an agent when I came to Iceland in 2019. I had a friend by the name of Keston George who had recently signed with Kórdrengir. One day he asked me if I would like to come play in Iceland and I took the opportunity even tho I didn’t know anything about the country. The only times I had heard about Iceland was from the 2016 euros.
You were signed for KF in the year 2021 by Slobotan. How were the first years with experience coach like Slobotan, and taking over as goalkeeper number one for the team when Dóri quit playing?
The first years for me under Slobodan was up and down because I got injured just before the season started in 2021 and I had to do a surgery so I was mostly trying to get back to full fitness. Becoming the number one after Dóri retired was great for me and I was really happy that Slobodan showed the confidence in me!
You have been playing in Iceland for six years, did you expect to stay so long when you first arrived here?
Honestly, no I didn’t expect to stay in Iceland so long but i met my wife here and we ended up having two beautiful kids.
What jobs have you been working on while playing for team Einherji, Dalvík/Reynir and KF?
In 2019 I worked in bæjar vinnan In Vopnafjörður, then I moved to Akureyri and worked a little In a restaurant. And now I work at Primex in Siglufjörður.
Do you have any role models for goalkeepers, that you have looked up to when growing up?
I have a lot of different goalkeepers I look up to but I would say my number one role model is my dad who was also a goalkeeper.
What do you think of next years 3. Division battle? You have played there before with Einherji, and it´s hard to go straight up.
Next year the battle in third division will be really tough and I say that because I don’t think there is much difference in the level from second division, but for us as a team we will need to improve a lot if we want to come back up straight away!
How if the life in Ólafsfjörður, how does a regular day look like for you?
Life in Ólafsfjörður is nice, quiet and peaceful. A day for me starts with getting the kids ready for kindergarten then I’m off to work from 8-5. After work I go back home to spend the rest of the evening with my family. That’s how it is off season but during the season there is training and gym after work.
SOURCE: hedinsfjordur.is