'The success has not gone to my head' -says Nigel 'Powers' Codrington
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
May 18, 2007
The early success of Guyana's ace-striker Nigel `Powers' Codrington in the United States of America (USA) where he plays for Cleveland City Stars (CCS) in the United States Leagues (USL) second-division has not gone to the player's head.
In an exclusive interview on Monday, the 27-year-old Codrington was reserved over the additional honour of being named Player-of-the-Week (May 6-12).
With his usual modesty, Codrington said:"I'm humbled by the credit I'm getting, but that hasn't gotten to my head. I'm aiming to be consistent and for greater things here onwards," he declared.
Codrington is also the only CCS player selected in the USL-2 Team-of-the-Week.
The Guyanese striker is the new 'buzz' in the soccer-smacked streets of Cleveland, Ohio after he slammed two goals in two games for his new club Cleveland City Stars (CCS), even though he is yet to play the full 90 minutes.
In his first game on May 4 against Crystal Palace Baltimore, in Maryland, he was introduced in the 70th minute.
He said the coach pruned him for the 20-minute run, primarily to "play it safe on my condition and readiness because of a long bus ride to the clubhouse the day before."
Playing in Kentucky against cross-State rivals Cincinnati Kings, last Saturday, Codrington helped CCS rally from a 1-0 deficit with two 'whap-whap' goals in the second half.
He had a tally in the 69th minute, and then notched the game-winner just three minutes later.
The victory ensured CCS a spot in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for 2007.
They have a 100% win-record from three games and are required to play fewer games than the other clubs in their league.
"I started this match in conditions (artificial turf pitch and 21° C weather) unusual to me, but I get used to it as play went on, then I did my thing for the club," the star forward revealed.
According to the commentators on a live internet broadcast (www.teamline.cc), Codrington was "indeed a revelation with the promise of 'feet for greater feats' in this only his first full start".
Shortly after those comments the nimble striker suffered minor cramps and had to be substituted in the 84th minute.
After logging a mere 104 total minutes in the two games, Codrington leads his team's ranking as the only player with four points, from nine shots on goal, which is three more than the next player.
He is the only player in the goal leaders ranking who has two or more goals in two or less games and he is second in the ranking. He is also #6 on the leagues' top 20 points leaders stats register.
Said Codrington:"At first when I got here (Cleveland) I had difficulty breathing in these thin air conditions, but I am now getting into it … the hang of this place."
The club is based in the city itself which is bisected by a river (Cuyahoga) - much like Linden. It is located along the south shore of Lake Erie which creates lowered summer and raised winter temperatures resulting in an annual average of 49.6°F (15.8°C).
Codrington is on contract with CCS until the end of August by which time he sees his tenure "opening up the interests of clubs' boosters and signing bids for other players from home."
He, himself, was scouted from the recent Digicel Caribbean Cup championships where he netted a tourney-best 11 goals, including an amazing hat-trick against Guadeloupe.
CCS is the newest of three recently formed expansion franchises, and is included among the league's top-tier teams. They will participate at the highest level of competition in the US, Canada and the Caribbean. So far the club has had q21 a red-hot start with three wins from as many games in its debut season.
Most of its players are from the USA, but Codrington has a fellow ex-Caladonia AIA player in Trinidadian striker Stephen Cruikshank. The club's pro team roster (www.clevelandcitysatrs.com) has other foreign players whose hometowns are in Australia, England and Scotland
While in Maryland, he was buoyed by a flow of greetings he received from several compatriots who turned up to see the game.
"Actually, I met some Guyanese I knew since growing up, and they say they'd be coming for our home game," Codrington noted.
CCS play their home opener against the New Hampshire Phantoms, this Saturday at the Krenzler Field. He had special gratitude for a host of "people back home who helped me to this level." Singling out his family and close friends, the football fraternities in Guyana and Trinidad, as well as national coach Jamal Shabazz, Codrington offered, "I want to tell everybody I see a great future and I am on a journey to fulfill it."
In a phone call, Shabazz was upbeat over the initial show by his former charge, saying it would go a long way to remove the harm and fortify the plusses in Guyana's football.
"He is going to opening up doors," he said of Codrington, and likened his impact to international star Dwight Yorke's for his native Trinidad and Tobago, years ago.
"And, we have many more guys ready to perform and take us to the results Guyana wants," Shabazz noted, calling for Guyanese in the US to "go watch a game…support these guys."
At the club's launch which was featured on 19Action-News TV, head coach Martin Rennie had said soccer was a big thing in Cleveland and Ohio. "So for us to do something successful here we have to create a brand of soccer which is exciting, which is entertaining, and these players here bring that." Rennie now indicates that the early success of his club "may even give us a chance to invite (England superstar) David Beckham to Cleveland, which would be awesome for everyone."