Amari’i Bell always knew wearing the Jamaican shirt meant something bigger. But leading his country as captain in West London with friends and family cheering and silverware on the line has taken that pride to an entirely new level.

The England-born left-back, who earns his Jamaican stripes through his grandparents, is savouring the moment. Appointed captain of the Reggae Boyz for their Unity Cup campaign, Bell wore the armband during the team's thrilling 3–2 win over Trinidad and Tobago earlier on Tuesday, and he will again lead the team out for Saturday's final against Nigeria at the Gtech Community Stadium.

"Obviously, it’s a huge honour to captain your country. It’s something dreams are made of, really. I’m embracing the opportunity, and I think the boys and I are just enjoying the time here. Playing overseas but still feeling like you’re back home (in Jamaica), it’s special," Bell, who made his Reggae Boyz debut in 2021, told reporters during a pre-game press conference.

The 31-year-old's calm, composed leadership from the back has helped steady a squad that mixes experience with new faces. Despite having only one day to prepare for their opening match, the Boyz found cohesion early, and Bell was at the heart of it.

"There’s always a good vibe with this group. I think, obviously, when you win games, you always gain confidence. So I think the vibe is going to be the same in the second game. Everybody's in high spirits, and we want to win both games," Bell noted.

That mindset is precisely why head coach Steve McClaren handed Bell the armband.

“There are many types of captains, but the one thing a true captain must have is the respect of his teammates...all of them. It's no good having half the dressing room respecting him and half going, 'I'm not too sure about him.' He's got the full dressing room; he has played in the English Premier League (with Luton Town), and he is of a certain stature," McClaren explained.

McClaren, who has coached at the highest levels in Europe, praised Bell’s consistency and professionalism.

"I always say, give me a 7-out-of-10 every week, and that’s Amari’i. He’s the standard-bearer. That consistency breeds respect from everybody else. The way he applies himself in training and in games, people have to follow that. When I look at what an ideal footballer does, they make the most of their talent and work damn hard to get to the top and be the best that they can possibly be, and Amari'i has done that," the former England manager shared.

More than just a figurehead, Bell, who is set to leave Luton Town in June, has embraced the behind-the-scenes responsibilities of leading a national team—helping young players adjust, communicating the coach’s expectations, and maintaining focus amid distractions.

“As players, you’ve got to mentally prepare yourself, but we also feed off each other. We pick each other up when we need to. So the more experienced guys, like myself, kind of use our knowledge of the game to try to lift the younger ones when they need it," Bell revealed.

That unity was especially evident on Tuesday night. Playing in front of a vocal crowd in the UK, many of them Jamaican expats, Bell felt the weight of expectation but also the joy of connection. For the first time, several of his family members saw him play live in a Jamaican jersey.

"Yeah, it was amazing. Obviously, for me personally, I had some family members there who have never seen me play for the national team. So it was a great achievement in that sense. So I'm looking forward to the next game on Saturday and the crowd being behind us. That helped us to get a third goal against Trinidad, and that's what football is all about—just never giving up and fighting till the end," Bell said.

Though Nigeria, a team rich in pedigree, athleticism, and top-level experience, stands in their way and Unity Cup glory, Bell is undaunted.

"I don't think there's any difference in pressure in that sense because we want to win. Obviously those who support us expect us to deliver a good performance and win as well. So I think, yeah, as long as we're focused and we do what we know we can, then we put ourselves in a really good position to win more games," he ended.