By the time Josh answers the call for the third time for his national team in Guyana, it doesn't feel like a shock anymore. It feels like confirmation that he really belongs.

"Okay," he says, thinking back to that moment. "They want me here. They want to keep me here. They want me to grow with this team."

That realisation - steady, earned, undeniable - sits at the center of Josh's journey. From Ontario Tech to Centennial College, from training grounds in Pickering to packed stadiums in Guyana and across the Caribbean, the goalkeeper's rise hasn't been loud, but it has been deliberate.

When Josh and I sit down on an uncharacteristically warm December afternoon, Josh is calm, thoughtful, and almost methodical in how he breaks down his journey and experience. As a young man, he understands that he needs to move with purpose and intention.

Consistency Over Everything

Ryan Miller: This is your third selection to the national men's team. What does that level of consistency mean to you as a keeper?

Josh: For me, consistency starts with training. You have to always be on top of yourself - what your body needs, what it's telling you. Every training session, I evaluate myself - and I ask - How did I do? What do I need? Maybe it's extra work. Maybe it's rest. I just try to be honest with myself so I can keep pushing to the next level.

That thought process didn't happen overnight for him, and that first experience still feels surreal.

From Shock to Belonging

Ryan Miller: What went through your mind when you got that third call, compared to the first two calls?

Josh: The first call, I went nuts. Coming from the U20s, I never thought I'd be called to the senior national team, let alone as the youngest keeper there. That was just [he pauses] unbelievable. The second time, I started thinking, "Okay, maybe this isn't a one-off. Maybe I'm part of this group now." "The third call was confirmation that my hard work was paying off."

That sense of belonging didn't stop with Josh. It rippled through his family, who understood what representing Guyana truly meant.

Family, Roots, and Identity

Ryan Miller: How has your family supported you through all of this?

Josh: My mom went absolutely nuts when she found out the first time I got called up. My dad was excited too, but in his own way – I think he was just excited he'd get to go back and see family [he laughs]. Both my parents are from Guyana, so they taught me how to carry myself with respect for our culture, how to move, and how to represent them and our people properly. I owe them a lot for that.

That grounding became especially important as Josh navigated development at the post-secondary level.

Building a Keeper in the College System

While not unique, Josh has played in both post-secondary leagues in Ontario, with an opportunity to play in the OUA (Ontario University Athletics) with Ontario Tech before becoming the starting keeper as a transfer to the OCAA (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association) to play for the Centennial Colts.

Ryan Miller: How did these environments help shape you?

Josh: Ontario Tech was challenging. You come in as a new keeper, and there are quality guys who've been there longer; you know that you have to earn everything. But that's where you learn to be in top form every day. Honestly, the OUA and OCAA aren't that different in quality. The game is the game. You still need to show up day after day.

For Josh, what accelerated his development was being called up to play for his family's home nation, Guyana, on the Men's Senior National Team.

When the Game Speeds Up

Ryan Miller: What stood out when you joined the senior national side?

Josh: The quality. You hear it all the time, but when you're there, it's different. Guys playing in England, guys from Tottenham, Liverpool, guys playing professionally in Guyana's Division One. The things they can do are just incredible. Every touch is clean. Every pass matters. As a keeper, that means everything you do has to be sharp.

And with those expectations comes pressure.

Josh: There are coaches everywhere. Scouts are watching your every move. My goalkeeper coach is standing behind my net, probing every decision I make. If you think about it too much, it's easy to get nervous. So, I keep it simple, bit by bit and one play at a time. If a shot goes in, you move on. If you don't, you're never going to get back on track.

Student. Athlete. Coach.

For many young athletes, playing is the only thing that matters, but for Josh, he juggles academics, training, and coaching, and prides himself on doing well in all three.

Ryan Miller: You're travelling between Canada and Guyana. How do you balance school, travel, and international competition?

Josh: To be honest with you, Ryan, I try to make friends with my professors [he laughs]. I introduce myself. I make small talk, so they know who I am. That way, when things come up, they understand my situation. Communication is EVERYTHING.

That same communication defines Josh's approach to coaching.

Giving Back, Paying It Forward

Josh coaches and trains young goalkeepers with Pickering FC as well as private sessions, and in the summer, plays for their League 1 team - bringing lessons from the national team back to the grassroots level.

Josh: I had a goalkeeper coach, Camila Benzie, when I was younger, who made me fall in love with training. Being a role model and seeing kids smile, seeing them improve, that impact really stuck with me. If I can help someone else's kid get to where I am, that's the best feeling because I know there are kids who want to be in my position, so I also use a lot of the drills and practices I learned down there with my kids.

One of his keepers, who privately trains with him, went on to represent Guyana at the U15 level.

Josh: A national team coach came up to me in Guyana and told me, "Keep training him". I didn't immediately put it together, but something clicked, and I realised that it was my student's coach from the U15 level. It shows you how word travels when you work hard, and that just made me proud of my work.

Sharper, Faster, Different

Every time he comes back to Canada after training with the national team, he feels sharper.

Josh: I come back sharper. Lighter on my feet. Faster. They train you to be in shape down there, they call it Caribbean-style training – where you just run – so it's different than back in Canada. When you wear that national badge, people expect you to perform consistently. You can't just talk. You back it up, and your fitness plays a big part in that.

Josh: I really enjoy providing additional insight to the [Colts] coaching staff. I talk to them about how we train, the formations we use to help the rest of the guys get better. Coach Dave [Lattavo] is a student of the game and is always interested in learning what I'm experiencing.

Living by Simple Rules

When asked about his aspirations, Josh doesn't really think about the glitz or glam; for him, it's deeper than that.

Josh: My dad always said three things matter: school first, soccer second, fun third. I live my life in three ways. I'm a student by day, a Centennial athlete in the afternoon, and a coach for Pickering at night. I understand how important my education is to my family and myself.

For younger players considering taking the college or university path, his advice is straightforward.

Josh: First, make sure you're comfortable with your team. Next, be patient. Even if you're not playing, don't get discouraged – that's when your level drops. Coaches see effort. Stay ready. Stay focused. I didn't get to play much right away. Be excited to get better every day.

Walking Out for Your Country

Then comes the question everyone asks, but very few get to answer.

Ryan Miller: What does it feel like to put on that jersey, seeing that badge on your chest and walking out to represent your country, knowing where you're coming from and now you're in a CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), sanctioned game.

[Josh pauses]

Josh: It's amazing. Playing in Guyana—nothing beats that. Ten thousand fans, the drums you hear as a kid growing up, noise everywhere. You feel everything. When you're on the road and make a mistake, you hear it. When you do something right, you hear it even louder, especially in front of the home crowd.

[He smiles]

Josh: Honestly, Ryan, all I can say is I'm grateful. Without these opportunities, I don't know how far my career would have gone. And I feel like for everyone out there who wants this, just go for it. Contact whoever, use whatever connections you've got to get experience, and if you can, start off young, cause it puts you in a better position; and ultimately just be grateful for every moment.

Josh's rise hasn't been flashy. It's been built on repetition, humility, and belief. Belief in the process, belief in people around him, belief in himself – with the right attitude and little luck, it will all come back to you. As they say, luck is when preparation meets opportunity, and for Josh this third time, it wasn't luck; it was preparation. Now, for the third time, everything feels just right.

By: Ryan Miller
Photo C/O: Guyana Football Federation