– Named USL-1 Player of the Week
Guyana’s star striker Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson says that he’s having the time of his life playing with the Carolina RailHawks in the first division of the United Soccer League. Richardson became the first Guyanese to play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) when he signed with the Colorado Rapids after being on trial with Toronto FC early this year.
However, his stay with the Rapids was not as fruitful as the striker had expected since he only appeared in one league match, playing 11 minutes as a substitute in the Rapids season-opening 2-1 loss to Chivas USA.
On June 26, he was waived by the Rapids and fortunately he flew right into the nest of the Carolina RailHawks.
In his debut game for the Hawks, Richardson put on a performance that was impressive as he scored the opening goal of his side’s two-nil win over reigning USL champions Vancouver Whitecaps.
According to the team’s website, the former Pele and Joe Public striker executed two step-overs to get around a defender and from an acute angle smashed a low shot that deflected off a Vancouver defender into the goal.
Team coach Martin Rennie said that the Guyanese certainly has the outfit that he was looking for but little did he know that he hadn’t seen the player in action as yet.
Instant hot pick
Richardson became an instant hot pick for the MLS team after his destructive hat-trick for the Trinidad club Joe Public at last year’s CONCACF Champions league during their 4-0 win over MLS top club, the New England Revolution.
Miami FC saw firsthand why the Guyanese was brought to the US after he scored a hat-trick during their four-nil win last Sunday.
It was only the third hat-trick in RailHawks’ history and the first one to occur on their home field. In his three games since signing with the RailHawks three weeks ago, Richardson has scored four goals in two matches.
The four-goal margin of victory is the largest the RailHawks have ever enjoyed in a USL-1 match, and the four goals scored are the most Carolina has ever scored against a league foe.
After the win which was also the RailHawks’ 10th of the year, setting a new club record for wins in a season, coach Martin Rennie said: “He can score on his own and set them up. At this level, there are not too many guys like that…It’s hard to get those guys, but it’s good for us to have him.”
Speaking with Stabroek Sport via telephone from his home in Carolina, Richardson said that all he wanted to do was play and he could not have been happier than he is right now.
“Well right now I’m very, very happy, the coach likes me, everybody likes me actually and I’m getting to play, that’s all I wanted to do since I come here…its no different than when I was playing in the MLS, it’s the same football, and honestly, I think they have better players here (USL-1),” Richardson said.
He state also: “I am one of the leading scorers in the league right now and imagine I only played two games, all I wanted to do was to show people that I can play here (USA) and that I am hungry t
o play…the people here already asking about Guyana, I see they put up a very big GT flag at the stadium now, so I’m good.”
He says more importantly, he is enjoying a good relationship with the coach whom he says is really looking out for him and giving him a chance to play.
“Up to just now (yesterday) I was talking to coach man and all he want me to do is continue playing the way I am, I’m not really there as yet, but I’m working hard you know,” Richardson said, adding that he is not in a hurry to go back to the MLS right now. “I just want to get some more playing, score some more goals and then we can see what will happen.”
Big offers
He also noted that already several of the top clubs in the MLS are breathing down his neck, giving him big offers but he is not yet ready and wants more time to play and score more goals for his club and also to help them to a championship. When asked if the Guyanese public will have a chance to see him in action for Pele in this year’s Kashif and Shanghai tournament, where he helped them win the championship last year, Richardson said “No”.
“Honestly I would love to play but it would be too close with the season over here and they (RailHawks) will not allow me to play, so I’m sorry but I can’t play Kashif this year, but I will be home to see my family and so on you know,” said ‘Jackie Chan’
Richardson was honored by the USL-1 for his fantastic showing in the league so far by naming him the player of the week.
