WASHINGTON — There’s no question that D.C. United starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid is full of confidence. An imposing figure in net for DC, the club’s first ever Home Grown signing has started 11 games since his return from offseason shoulder surgery, at times making dazzling saves to keep his side in it.
The 20-year-old is in his second full season with DC, and he has his sights set on big things down the road. MLSsoccer.com caught up with Hamid after Tuesday’s training session.
MLSsoccer.com: What did you think of the team’s performance on Saturday against Real Salt Lake?
Hamid: Definitely a lot of things we could have improved on. Had a couple of bad spots. It shows the fight that we have and the courage that we have to step on the field and make sure we stay in games and get results no matter what.
MLSsoccer.com: How do you feel you’re progressing this season?
Hamid: I feel like I’m doing all right. I’m trying to keep my team in games. I did well in Salt Lake to keep the score as close as possible — made three key saves to keep us within one. For me right now, it’s finding a level of consistency and building on that week by week.
I’m a young guy and I've got big dreams and stuff like that, so for me to get there I need to listen to the coaching staff and keep it consistent and build on performances.
MLSsoccer.com: What was it like to catch up with Tim Howard last week when the US team was in DC?
Hamid stones Lenhart
Hamid: I’ve known Timmy for a while. He knows about me — we’ve talked before a couple times before, on the phone, met in England.
He has a lot of faith in me, thinks I have a lot of potential to make it to the big time one day. … He’s a really positive guy and he has a really good heart, so whatever advice I could take from him and build off of, I’m definitely going to use that.
MLSsoccer.com: How do you think the young defense — Perry Kitchen and Ethan White, in particular — are doing?
Hamid: Good. Ethan and Perry, they make a good team. Unfortunately Dejan’s out, and were missing him, but the guys are doing fine with the plan the coaches have set up. Ethan’s very athletic, can cover well with his speed in case anybody else makes a mistake. And Perry, he’s technically gifted. He has good foot skills, he’s very feisty.
MLSsoccer.com: How does it feel to be playing on a consistent basis right now?
Hamid: It feels good. My confidence right now is getting better day-by-day. I’m working hard and off the field I’m doing everything I can. Three times a week I’m going to the gym at night before I go to sleep and do extra work to stay in shape.
I want to help the club and organization that helped me, gave me the contract and gave me the chance and give back to them, so I’m definitely making sure I’m doing everything I can to give back to the club.
MLSsoccer.com: What’s been the key to the improved set-piece defense?
Hamid: Our fight. We have fight on the road, and when we have that mentality in our own final third, no team is going to be able to continue to beat us on set pieces.
Travis Clark covers D.C. United, college and youth soccer for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @travismclark.
